On every documentary about contemporary rock music, they fall into the cliché.
According to received wisdom, when Nirvana released “Nevermind” we all renounced our rock albums and became grunge overnight.
Whilst it’s absolutely true to say the crap bands were either washed away – like Tuff, for example – or changed their sound in a desperate bid to appear relevant (hello, Kiss…), I’ll contend right now that it never had the effect it’s claimed.
The week before that album came out, Guns N’ Roses released the “Use Your Illusion” albums on exactly the same label, and I know which I prefer, still.
And anyway, if there was any merit to the argument, surely albums like “Welcome To The Future” wouldn’t get made.
“Disaster” plays its hand inside 30 seconds. Keyboards parp, the riffs are radio friendly, and when it gets to its chorus, you’d best believe it soars.
In short, it could have come out in 1986 – and if it had, it would have been a staple on MTV.
What’s more, it’d have been brilliant then too.
“Bad Time For Love” swaggers, walking the earth like a cross between Godzilla and a Eurovision winner. It’s topped by “Running To You”, which will take you back to the glory days. Hell, it’s probably wearing a “Slip Of The Tongue” patch on its denim jacket as we speak. “Call My Name” is a bit more mid-paced and considered, and it needs saying that the record is superbly played as well as sounding like a million dollars.
But there’s always that thing with H.E.A.T. You can tag them as mere ’80s throwbacks, but they cloak themselves in power metal stylings more than most did back then. “In Disguise”, for example, proudly exists in a more OTT place than nearly all of their contemporaries ever did. It’s just that they balance this out with “The End”, which doesn’t half sound like it should have come off Bon Jovi’s debut.
Of all the Swedish melodic rock bands – and there’s millions of them – H.E.A.T are probably the most attuned to anthems. “Rock Bottom” is perfect and sums up the ethos here: “when you hit rock bottom,” sings Kenny Leckremo, “the only thing to do is rock.” And dammit, that’s all they ever do.
What must never be forgotten, though, is how good they are as musicians. Dave Dalone can knock the riffs out with the best, and Jona Tee’s keys give energy to “Children Of The Storm”.
When it all comes together like it does on “Losing Game” there is no one better at this in the modern era – basically because it never sounds dated, and no one would get close to attempting “Paradise Lost”, which pushes the boundaries still further, anyway.
And whilst “Tear It Down (RNRR)” might start in the darkness, it soon bursts into the light. The brackets stand for “Rock N Roll Rebel”, but H.E.A.T are way more. They just love bombast, like on album closer “We Will Not Forget” – and why not?
Rather like Europe, say, they do things their own way. But far from being the final countdown for melodic rock, “Welcome To The Future” proves it’s very much not in the past, whatever was meant to happen over 30 years ago.
Rating: 8.5/10
