The new album by H.E.A.T. is out! It was released on April 25 and is available now on all platforms and on CD/vinyl. They have a tour happening to support the album; info on our ‘Alive in 25 page.’
Band members are:
- Jimmy Jay—bass guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
- Jona Tee—keyboards, backing vocals (2007–present)
- Don Crash—drums (2007–present), backing vocals (2013–present)
- Dave Dalone—guitar, backing vocals (2007–2013, 2016–present)
- Kenny Leckremo—lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2007–2010, 2020–present)
It’s been a while since we featured H.E.A.T. in the magazine. I looked back and we last did a piece on these Swedish AOR rockers in 2022, around the time of their last album, “Force Majeure,” which announced the return of original vocalist Kenny Leckremo. The album was preceded by the singles “Disaster,” “Bad Time for Love,” and “Running to You.”
I’m avoiding making Sunday lunch at the moment and have left the baby with my partner, so it’s me time and it’s time to rock lol.
My review:
“Disaster” delivers a massive opener, huge drum sound and a roll of thunder as we have a classic heavy AOR sound. This is a big commercial rocker to set off the rocket ride. I liked it a lot; it absolutely blew the cobwebs away from a lazy Sunday.
“Bad Time for Love” is up next, single release following single release. This is another big anthemic track, following nicely from “Disaster,” it slots well into the opening of the album.
“Running to You” was single number 3. It has that Bon Jovi style of sing-along, the vocals are a bit more melodic and the song packs a big punch. It reminded me a bit of Kiss circa “Asylum” and has all those chorus hooks. This is very good! It is a must for commercial rock radio for sure and will slip nicely onto my future playlists.
“Call my Name” opens with some great guitar artistry and a Whitesnake-style beat. This is another great sing-along that is made for the live stage. Positive message, unity, take-my-hand—it’s a great feel-good track.
“In Disguise” changes direction a bit and has a really solid keyboard/bass/drum feel. I actually got into this as I like a bit of prog rock and this is a sweeping bit of power prog. You sometimes are really happy you are reviewing an album, and so far this is one of those albums. I’m enjoying it a lot, reminds me of the best of the eighties rock!
“The End” is another fast pop/rock track. It remains radio-friendly and certainly uses the keyboards to drive the car this time. Another good vocal and a decent riff on those guitars.
“Rock Bottom” is a heavier track, surely one that will be in the live set. It sets out to test the amps. Not perhaps as distinctive as some of the earlier ones, it nevertheless has a strong chorus that will have the crowd fist pumping.
“Children of the Storm” calms the waters a bit and we get an AOR-style track telling stories and ripping through those melodies and giving us another big chorus.
“Losing Game.” I enjoyed the bass feel of this one, a track that is very indicative of the album as a whole. It’s an album track, not a filler, but one that doesn’t grab me as much as some of the earlier numbers.
“Paradise Lost” is another solid rock track, and this band can certainly deliver those chorus.’ The riff based around a guitar and keyboard sound is also catchy and grabs the listener.
“Tear it Down”, again, reminds me of Whitesnake, and it slots well into the latter stages of the album. It kind of moved back to Prog territory, but is not as well done as “In Disguise.” The guitar break is a good one.
“We will not Forget” ends on a powerful sing-along. It closes the album with a powerful AOR track and I enjoyed the lyrics. Escapism, and that is a general message for the album too.
Standout tracks: “Disaster,” “Running to You,” and “In Disguise.”
In summary: buckle up for a rocket ride through a thunderous landscape of massive choruses, soaring vocals, and fist-pumping riffs! This album blows the cobwebs away with a glorious blend of heavy AOR, arena rock anthems, and a surprise detour into power-prog. Standout tracks like “Disaster,” “Running to You,” and “In Disguise” prove that sometimes the spirit of ’80s rock isn’t just alive—it’s kicking down the door.
And we hope you liked the review, dear reader! If you did, please check out the other pages of the magazine; we have many great features, merchandise pages, shops, editorials and even a poetry page. Content is free here, but we work hard for you, and to support the magazine, please show your appreciation on the support button below and buy me a coffee!
Band official website is here
Stream music from H.E.A.T. here
By Stevie Ritson