Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: H.E.A.T.
Label: Gain
Release: 2017
Length: 44:48
Rating: 4.5/5
H.e.a.t. are one of the best rock bands of the new generation, busy these days reviving melodic rock, hard rock and AOR. The potent Swedish quintet cemented its position and credibility especially once »Sweden’s idol« and singer Erik Grönwall came on board. After the albums »Adress the Nation« and »Tearing Down the Walls« they pulled off a gigantic leap, in terms of creative expression and more mature songwriting as well as commercial results. Today H.e.a.t. are one of the few bands cultivating a kind of musical »archaism«, making melodic rock inspired by a dying genre, and therefore totally out of fashion and of zero interest to the masses. And yet the band actually made it. Their quality has earned the Swedes such a reputation that they can headline tours without breaking a sweat, even across the always fickle UK market. You have to grind for that and know how to capitalize on your talent. And H.e.a.t. have talent in spades, enough to export. In that department, H.e.a.t. have basically earned themselves a little doctorate.
Guitarist Dave Dalone (stage name »Sky Davis«) is back in the fold, and the new album »Into the Great Unknown« basically continues down the path laid out by its excellent predecessor »Tearing Down the Walls«. On the new record, H.e.a.t. prove once again that they keep maturing and progressing as songwriters. All ten tracks are chiseled with such perfection in finding the optimal balance between convincing melody and punch that you start wondering where the creative zenith that defines bands like this actually sits. But with the excellent predecessor and its successor on equal footing quality-wise, the easiest conclusion is that H.e.a.t. are simply riding a wave of one huge creative rainbow these past few years. The production, handled by Tobias Lindell, departs slightly from the sound of the previous album and adds a bit more pop polish, yet the band doesn’t sacrifice an inch of its fire, its bristling edge and its »untamed wildness«.
Perfect communication, give-and-take, and instinct. The quintet hasn’t lost a speck of the extraordinary chemistry that binds it, so all the creativity and drive carried straight over to the new album. Another fantastic performance from the phenomenal Grönwall, matched by the polished songwriting of all ten tracks, with no dips in quality among them. On the new album, H.e.a.t. also keep that likable, infectious air of slightly naive but boldly potent young stallions eager to prove themselves, as if this were a studio debut. They approach everything with incredible verve, inspiration, enthusiasm and fire. It all radiates from an exceptionally good new record.
The band keeps growing and getting stronger. That’s the biggest charm of this whole beautiful H.e.a.t. story, which clearly has no end in sight. »Into the Great Unknown« is thus yet another leap upward in creative maturity for the band, one its fans will worship and treasure long after release. In time, this album will take its place among the best of H.e.a.t.’s entire career, no doubt about it. If only because it’s on par in quality with the brilliant predecessor »Tearing Down The Walls«, and, hand on heart, even this reviewer wasn’t entirely convinced H.e.a.t. would match it, let alone top it.
H.e.a.t. – Time On Your Side (official lyric video):
Lineup
Erik Grönwall – vocals
Dave Dalone – guitar
Jona Tee – keyboards
Jimmy Jay – bass
Crash – drums
Production
Tobias Lindell
Tracklist
01. Bastard Of Society (03:50)
02. Redefined (04:19)
03. Shit City (03:51)
04. Time On Our Side (03:53)
05. Best Of The Broken (04:32)
06. Eye Of The Storm (03:41)
07. Blind Leads The Blind (03:22)
08. We Rule (05:45)
09. Do You Want It (04:05)
10. Into The Great Unknown (07:24)
