As much as I bitch about certain bands being predictable, one-dimensional, or flat out cliche, there are also bands who have made their bones off of the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” ideology: Bands whose albums are the musical equivalent of a piping hot plate of soul food. You know exactly what you’re going to get, and it hits the spot every single time. One such band is Bullet. Having formed 25 years ago, these Swedish heavy rockers proceeded the NWOTHM scene with their unique brand of AC/DC swagger meets Accept militancy. While there are no shortage of bands attempting this sound today, it was Bullet who emerged doing so during a dark era for old school metal and hard rock, which is why they remain one of the premiere acts of their scene today.
There’s only one problem. It has been a long, long, LONG time since we last heard from the Bullet boys (not to be confused with the “Smooth Up in Ya” hitmakers), 8 years to be exact. For those keeping score, that’s the longest gap in between Bullet albums to date. Of course, a lot happened in those 8 years that held back the recording and subsequent release of the band’s 7th studio outing, Kickstarter, but alas, the time has finally come. Bullet are back and more fiery than ever, eager to get back in the classic hard and heavy worship game they helped kickstart (pun fully intend) with their latest bruiser of an album, Kickstarter.
Like every album that proceeded it, Kickstarter boasts no curveballs, detours, or unexpected surprises: Just 11 songs of high voltage rock n’ roll at its purest. As mentioned earlier, Bullet draws heavily from the well of AC/DC, but specifically the ’80s era when both the production and songs picked up a more “metal” vibe (i.e. Flick of the Switch (1983), Fly on the Wall (1985)). Frontman Dag Hell Hofer screams, shrieks, and snarls his way through each banger, proving himself to be a far worthier heir to Brian Johnson’s throne than Axl Rose. Thankfully, those days are behind us and Brian is back where he belongs, but I digress.
While the dorks and naysayers may dismiss the one-notedness of Kickstarter, for an album of this nature, it scratches every itch. You’ve got your four on the floor, bare-knuckle rockers (i.e. the title track, “Caught in the Action”, “Full Throttle”), your sly, swaggering pub metal outlaw anthems (i.e. “Keep Rolling”, “Spitfire”), and the obligatory NWOBHM-tinged outbursts, in which the “heavy” outweighs the “hard” (i.e. “Chained by Metal”, “Strike at Night”). Through it all, guitarists Hampus Klang and Freddie Johansson hold down the fort with one Young bros. flavored riff barrage after the next, rocking us from start to finish, all gas, no brakes.
Following a year that saw us bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne and Ace Frehley, Kickstarter is just the album we need to get 2026 off to a rip-roaring start. I found myself smiling from start to finish, banging my head and air-guitaring in rejoice to practically every tune…which must’ve looked weird during my initial listen at the gym, but let me tell you something folks: These Swedes sure know how to motivate, giving you that push for one more rep of arm curls, one power chord at a time. Rev up your engines in rejoice and put the pedal to the metal! Bullet are back with a bite!
8 out of 10
Label: Steamhammer
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: AC/DC, Krokus, Accept