EarMusic [Release Date 25.04.25]

H.E.A.T’s new album shows the benefits of a stable line up. 2022’s ‘Force Majeure’, which marked the return of original singer Kenny Leckremo surprised many with its heaviness given that the first two albums with him were more in an AOR mould, and ‘Welcome To The Future’ builds naturally on that sound.

‘Disaster’ is an opening statement of intent, a strong anthem which tips a nod to a Euro metal sound with crunchy guitar and frantic drumming from Don Crash. ‘Bad Time For Love’ is more commercial though with Kenny’s vocals soaring in almost symphonic fashion- there is a lot going on in just three minutes flat, which opens and closes with the chorus line sung in big gang-vocal style.

‘Running To You’ may begin with a metallic riff but is even catchier with its bouncy chorus and those self-same gang vocals deliver the ‘who-oahs’. Yet the next two songs see them broadening their sound- ‘Call My Name’ has more space in its grooves and it is even possible to discern the disco influences of fellow Swedish melodic rockers The Night Flight Orchestra while ‘In Disguise’ shows a greater degree of musical maturity with some neo-classical instrumental passages taking the band into Rainbow or Malmsteen territory.

‘The End’ is my favourite on the album to date, with the stabbing keys I have a weakness for a major factor allied to some great guitar runs from Dave Dalone at the end of another big) chorus.

‘Rock Bottom’ is in the mould of ‘Disaster’ with a big swaggering riff yet oddly familiar in places, both in the chorus and when Kenny sings ‘I’ve never been superstitious’ in the opening verse and sounds even more like Joey Tempest (a recurring comparison). Allied to those backing vocals, I don’t think H.E.A.T have ever sounded quite as strong vocally as they do on this album.

‘Children of the Storm’ is a good complement to some of the more instant numbers, perhaps not the strongest song but another with an anthemic feel and almost symphonic metal backing, while ‘Paradise Lost’ also takes the sound in a metallic direction with some great neo-classical guitar solos yet at the same time some brilliantly melodic keyboard work from Jona Tee. In between, ’Losing Game’ is another it is possible to imagine as a lost song from Europe’s vintage period, with a good chorus and also boasting a synth solo in the middle.

No album is perfect and the rather average ‘Tear It Down’ for me is substantially the weakest on view, but things end more satisfactorily with in ‘We Will Not Forget’, another of those marching-style anthems that their contemporaries Eclipse do so well.

They have toughened their sound over the years but this version of H.E.A.T is lean and mean, yet also still very melodic, not least as they have mastered the art of intros that invariably grab your attention. It is at least on a par with ‘Force Majeure’ with the songs having a tad more depth and for my money one of their very best releases in an already strong catalogue. **** ½

Review by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 16 June 2025

LOVE NOR MONEY Blood Will Tell (Golden Robot Records)
DISCIPLES OF VERITY Break The Cycle (TLG/Zoid)
BLACKLIST UNION Up In Smoke (BLU Records)
ANDY AND THE ROCKETS Cyanide (Valley Music Delapop)
ARCHERS Crooked Smile (SBG Records)
ZETRA So (Nuclear Blast)
HOLLOW SOULS Shotgun (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 16 June 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

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