Funny how the ’20s has seen me go from a casual H.E.A.T fan at best to the unofficial head of the Midwest chapter of their fan club. I’ve spent the better part of this decade championing them, as well as their melodically inclined peers Eclipse, Crazy Lixx, and so forth, because quite frankly, these euro bands are cranking out far more fulfilling rock n’ roll than their American counterparts. In the case of H.E.A.T, this is a band who, in their nearly 20 year existence, have yet to release an underwhelming platter. Their latest effort, Welcome to the Future, is no exception.
Truth be told, H.E.A.T threw me for a curveball with this one. Their last couple albums, H.E.A.T II (2020) and Force Majeure (2022), saw the band veering towards a melodic metal direction, reminiscent of early Europe and Pretty Maids, while still retaining their core AOR sound. When I first saw the sci-fi themed cover art for this one, and heard the rampaging debut single, “Disaster”, I thought to myself, “This is it. This is the album in which H.E.A.T crosses the threshold to euro metal wonderland once and for all.” And I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Welcome to the Future sees H.E.A.T dialing back the metal-ness heavily, largely retreating back to the AOR stylings of their early work, yet without ever sacrificing their signature punch. For those of a metal disposition, this album is not without its headbanger outbursts. Besides the aforementioned “Disaster”, “In Disguise” is outright euro symphonic metal pomp and “Paradise Lost” boasts the drama of a Perfect Strangers era Deep Purple tune, but then again, doesn’t most euro metal? These are excellent songs in their own right, but mostly serve as outliers to a collection songs that owe less to early Europe and more to MTV era Europe.
The anthemic power of cuts like “Bad Time for Love”, “Running to You”, and “Call My Name” are friendly reminders that arena rock has never gone out of style, even nearly four decades after the likes of Whitesnake and Bon Jovi ruled the megadome circuit. “Rock Bottom” and “Losing Game” swagger around with a sort of euro-funk metal attitude, while “Tear It Down R.N.R.R.” is guaranteed to gets fists pumping and hearts thumping. The over the top, “training montage” AOR of “We Will Not Forget” serves as a fitting closer to this charmingly retro outing, boasting a colossal shout-along chorus and a precise balance of guitars and synths as a backdrop.
If Welcome to the Future is a sign of what’s to come for H.E.A.T, then these hard rocking Swedes have a bright one ahead of them. It’s their second album with OG vocalist Kenny Leckremo back in the fold, and with all due respect to Erik Grönwall (who did a GREAT job himself), Leckremo handles these tunes with a freakish cool and confidence, as if he’d never left the band in the first place. Couple his powerful Joey Tempest-esque pipes with the relentless axe attack of Dave Dalone, dreamy keys of Jona Tee, and thundering rhythms of Jimmy Jay and Don Crash, and you’ve got a band who’s absolutely smoking hot right now, H.E.A.T! Be sure to wear gloves while handling this one!
9 out of 10
Label: earMUSIC
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Europe, Crazy Lixx, Whitesnake
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