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For fans of melodic hard rock, the early stages of 2025 are shaping up to resemble the famous scene in ‘The Two Towers'” where Gandalf comes to the rescue at the Battle of Helm’s Deep. “Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.” Only this time it’s not Gandalf and the Rohirrim reinforcements charging down the hill; it’s the guys from Crazy Lixx, W.E.T., and tonight’s headliners H.E.A.T all with their respective incoming new albums, saving the day in the fight against mediocrity. When it comes to the finest melodic hard rock, and when you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes: it has to be Swedish.
Although Crazy Lixx are first out of the blocks with the Valentine’s Day release of their new album ‘Thrill Of The Bite’, H.E.A.T got the ball rolling on what is shaping up to be a memorable year with a smash-and-grab set of 5 live dates that proved how strong a bastion of melodic hard rock the UK is.
Flying the flag for the UK and getting the party started in fine style; the incredible Chez Kane.
With a killer band alongside her (including guitarist Harry Scott Elliott who you can catch soon in the UK treading the boards with Tyketto on Uriah Heep’s farewell tour), Kane ripped through a 45-minute set that firmly cemented her status as THE rising star on the UK melodic hard rock scene. With 2 top-notch albums to choose from (2021’s self-titled debut, and the 2022 follow-up ‘Powerzone’), Kane’s set is all killer with zero filler.
With one eye on the large digital clock at the side of the stage, there isn’t much time for chit-chat, instead, it’s one banger after another to get the crowd involved from the off. ‘Too Late For Love’, ‘All of It’, the sultry, slower paced ‘I Just Want You’, and ‘Nationwide’ are all early highlights, but it’s the closing pair of ‘Rocket on the Radio’ and ‘Powerzone’ where Kane really takes off. Her infectious and personable personality is natural, and when she takes time to thank everyone for coming out early to catch the opening act, it is obviously from the heart. Album number 3 will be crucial, hence the need to take it slow and not rush it.
For Swedes Art Nation this run of 5 dates was their maiden tour of England, and they made every second count. Playing a surprisingly short set, the four-piece offered up more of a metalized touch to proceedings with ‘Brutal & Beautiful’ being a particularly bombastic opening. The uniform of long trenchcoats and/or tunics with armoured shoulder pieces suggests (visually at least) a power-metal influence, and although the galloping opening of ‘Thunderball’ might agree with this (as it also would on ‘Echo’), the track soon settles into more familiar hard rock territory.
Vocalist Alexander Strandell has an impressive set of pipes and looking at his online bio, he has a wealth of experience in multiple genres which shines through in his onstage presence; ‘Halo’ for instance has the hooks to be a massive hit for some pop starlet and put another wing on Casa Del Strandell. ‘Set Me Free’ is the new single, and one of the tougher, faster, heavier moments of the night thanks to the drumming which is impeccable throughout, as is the guitar work from Christoffer Borg who has a lovely knack for making it all look simple. A short set, but an impressive one nonetheless.
Losing a vocalist with the immense talent and firecracker stage presence of Erik Grönwall would have knocked any band for six. Still, thankfully H.E.A.T had a ready-made replacement in the wings when Grönwall departed the band to join his childhood heroes Skid Row. Stepping back into the spotlight and reclaiming his position centre stage would be original H.E.A.T vocalist Kenny Leckremo who Grönwall replaced in 2010. Not many rock bands can boast replacing one powerhouse vocalist with another of similar standing, but the likeable Swedes have managed that…twice.
With the intro music of Glenn Frey’s quintessential 80’s classic ‘The Heat Is On’ fading out, H.E.A.T take to the stage one at a time like returning heroes. Powerhouse drummer Don Crash is the first one out and heads to the lip of the stage and cajoles that all-important reaction out of the crowd before taking his place behind his kit. Once everyone else is in place, Leckremo explodes onto the stage like an unmanned fire hose, and the band heads straight into the just-released new single ‘Disaster’. Any lack of familiarity is not evident as fists are pumping, and the crowd are singing along with the insanely catchy chorus.
It’s a well-constructed setlist that covers material from albums recorded by both Leckremo and Grönwall. The trio of ‘Dangerous Ground’, ‘Hollywood’ (ridiculously hook-filled), and a towering run-through of ‘Rise’ is an early highlight with Leckremo stating that it is always special to play ‘Rise’ because “When I got the opportunity to come back…it was one of the first songs that I sang with the guys….”. If you need any reminder of how special it is, check out the official video of Leckremo performing it that announced his return to the band. Calling it special doesn’t even begin to cover it; witnessing it live in the flesh simply enhances that feeling.
‘Nationwide’, ‘Harder to Breathe’, and ‘Back to the Rhythm’ are all choice cuts from Leckremo’s first studio album back with the band, 2022’s ‘Force Majeure’, an album that saw the band barely skipping a beat since the departure of Grönwall. Live, the songs are stronger thanks to Leckremo’s enthusiasm and the extraordinary playing from guitarist Dave Dalone, whose guitar solos and licks always bring some extra weight to the party.
The brand-new studio album ‘Welcome to The Future’ is set for release on April 25th and if the new single ‘Disaster’ got the juices flowing in anticipation of the album, then ‘Bad Time For Love’ took that and multiplied it one-thousand-fold. Full of H.E.A.T-isms – including those trademark lush Swedish layered vocal harmonies – it has all the hallmarks of a H.E.A.T classic and future setlist staple for years to come. Those aforementioned “trademark lush Swedish layered vocal harmonies”… take over the closing track ‘Tearing Down the Walls’ and help raise it to a higher place. Soaring; hopeful; life-affirming; and arguably the greatest melodic hard rock song of the last 2 decades it is something special and the only way to end a perfect evening and send the crowd out into the cold Mancunian night having witnessed a live performance from a band that constantly gets better each time they step onto a stage.
H.E.A.T have just been announced as one of the main support acts (along with the Quireboys) to headliner Richie Kotzen at this year’s Maid of Stone Festival. Mr. K will need to bring his A-game because H.E.A.T are a hard act to follow, and on this form, almost impossible to follow. The urban legend of Jerry Lee Lewis setting his piano on fire with lighter fluid after a show where Chuck Berry was scheduled to close and then telling Berry: “Follow that, boy” immediately springs to mind. Minus the lighter fluid, obviously.
Check out all future live dates, here.
Pre-order ‘Welcome to The Future’, here.
Review – Dave
All H.E.A.T images – ©Johann Wierzbicki
Chez Kane/Art Nation images – Mark Lear
All images supplied via Noble PR and used with permission
