The Heavy Load are a cult Swedish metal band that formed in the late Seventies. The Scandinavian quartet debuted in 1978 with their first work, "Full Speed At Night," and continued in 1981 with "Metal Conquest." Gaining quite a bit of success, the Heavy Load released the acclaimed, now hard-to-find "Death Or Glory" in 1982, reaching the pinnacle of their career. The band offered a generous dose of pure classic heavy metal, enriched by the classic melodies of N.W.O.B.H.M., delivering eight songs at high levels.

The group consists of Ragne Wahlquist on guitar and vocals, Eddy Malm on guitar and vocals, Torbjorn Ragnesjo on bass, and Styrbjorn Wahlquist on drums and vocals. "Death Or Glory" opens with a great anthem piece, which is the explosive "Heavy Metal Angels (In Metal And Leather)," perfectly embodying the true spirit of the combo in its six minutes. The song presents an initially promising riff, quickly joined by the gritty voice of guitarist Wahlquist, showcasing his energy in the incredible chorus. So thrilling... The bridge in the second minute is very beautiful, where melodic and exciting solos come in, and the vocals take on a decidedly epic tone. The rest of the track is pure adrenaline!

"Might For Right" is introduced by some fine drumming and British riffing, thus hitting the sounds of Blitzkrieg and Diamond Head. The voice is supported by a pompous rhythmic carpet, while the refrain is typically N.W.O.B.H.M., endowed with the inevitable melody and an aptly chosen grit. "Something New" is perhaps, along with a few others, the best song of the album, opened by an intriguing initial phase and great technique that adds a touch of originality. The riff is excellent, the vocal style is very passionate and full of pathos, while the perfect chorus is irresistible. The subsequent "Traveller" is sublime, deserving of a separate comment. The song begins with a crescendo that transforms into a sensational metallic gallop, dominated by the bright voice of the vocalist. The chorus is epic, and there is a crescendo of pathos, while the long solos are very intricate, accompanied by airy choirs. The rest of the song is simply to be heard... Words cannot describe it! After this rare gem, we continue with the seventh track, "Little Lies," which proves to be quite a nice and catchy song from the first listens. Still, nothing special.

Meanwhile, the album is rightfully and obviously closed by a worthy track, namely "Daybreak Ecstasy." A track rich in atmospheres and epic sounds, akin to Manilla Road, while the stunning solos add a small dose of darkness. The ending is just one to frame!

Tracklist and Videos

01   Heavy Metal Angels (in Metal and Leather) (04:03)

02   Might for Right (03:25)

03   Something New (04:30)

04   Bleeding Streets (03:45)

05   The Guitar Is My Sword (04:30)

06   Take Me Away (04:24)

07   Trespasser (03:54)

08   Still There Is Time (04:26)

09   Traveller (05:15)

10   Little Lies (04:31)

11   Daybreak Ecstasy (05:09)

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