Label: earMUSIC
Release date: 5. 8. 2022
Production: Jona Tee, Dave Dalone & Kenny Leckremo
Album length: 41.56 min
Genre: Glam Metal (revival) / Melodic Metal
Rating: 10/10
H.E.A.T. are the very definition of perfectionism when it comes to (perfectly) reheating the glam metal and AOR discoveries of the golden days of the late eighties and turning them into a new, “updated” form. Over the last two decades, alongside H.E.A.T., that approach has produced a whole phalanx of similarly brilliant Scandinavian “melodic metal” imitators (just to name a couple: W.E.T, Eclipse).
Plenty of people were bummed when the band announced Erik Grönwall’s departure. The man had joined Skid Row. And who among Grönwall’s generational peers would turn down an offer like that? For the faithful, that was the first “alarm bell.” The second thing that could have rocked a perfectly satisfying situation inside the H.E.A.T. camp came soon after: the band announced the return of original singer Kenny Leckremo. On the first two albums H.E.A.T. put out with Leckremo on vocals, they sounded different than on the last four with Grönwall. So will the new album take a turn toward softer, musically “toxic,” contagiously catchy waters with more AOR elements, or will the band carry over the fiercely distorted, jagged edge of its predecessor »II«? Throw in the adventure of “mild” experimentation on »Into The Great Unknown« (2017), which left fans pretty confused (even though it’s an excellent record all round, one that shows real artistic growth), and you have to conclude that the new album is a sort of combo of its predecessor »II« (2020) and the “Grönwall era” albums »Adress The Nation« (2012) and »Tearing Down The Walls« (2014).
Enough said. Fans can relax. And then some. »Force Majeure« is, just like the name says, a mighty beast of a record. Call it “album »II« with Leckremo on vocals,” or »H.E.A.T. 3« (take your pick). The title fully lives up to what’s inside. During the “Covid lockdown days,” the band found plenty of time and freedom to hunt for creative inspiration, and it shows on every one of the eleven flawlessly polished tracks. With Leckremo back, the new H.E.A.T. have really become the old H.E.A.T. again (the current lineup is in fact the founding one). And Leckremo? Where on earth was the kid hanging out for the last decade? The vocal power of his performance remains unblemished compared with what he delivered on the first two albums. He sings explosively, with a huge rush of passion and emotion. At every moment his voice is commanding and proud, used with incredible musical skill. Especially when it comes to the brilliantly executed meter of the verses, H.E.A.T. come across like Scandinavians, with “perfect English.” But when didn’t they?
»Force Majeure« is, in other words, the new (and already seventh overall) H.E.A.T. album that has put everything in the house back where it belongs. Once again it’s clear who the main players are in this modern-day “Scandi-revival” theater. Track after track is the very definition of perfection. Not only are H.E.A.T. riding it firmly in the saddle of their trademark musical purism, it’s bursting at the seams with high-octane, ultra-sonic catchiness and ravenous punch. It’s also worth pointing out how superbly the bombast, or pomp, has been optimized. It has always been part of this band, but this time it hits especially hard and flawlessly. Add to that the hugely appealing creative variety in how the individual songs are arranged, which always deals the band a winning poker hand of aces, whether in the moments of the album driven by a detonating mid-tempo march, in the calmer sections, or in the kicking, adrenaline-fueled rush. Nothing slips past them. »Force Majeure« is an album you can hardly add anything to when it comes to the level of optimization. With it, H.E.A.T. have proven an extraordinary artistic maturity, boldness and impenetrability that is, simply put, “astonishingly elegant.” “Back in the rhythm!” Let it stay that way!
Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. Back To The Rythm
2. Nationwide
3. Tainted Blood
4. Hollywood
5. Harder To Breathe
6. Not For Sale
7. One Of Us
8. Hold Your Fire
9. Paramount
10. Demon Eyes
11. Wings Of An Aeroplane
Lineup:
Kenny Leckremo – vocals
Dave Dalone – guitar
Jona Tee – keyboards
Jimmy Jay – bass guitar
Don Crash – drums
