Heavy Load
Stronger Than Evil

The first album was a real bolt from the blue, which opened up a new horizon for everyone who listened to it towards that niche genre that is epic metal. 1978 saw the release of "Full speed at high level," marking the inception of the glorious career of the Swedish Heavy Load, destined to fly under the radar in the "market" music scene. That debut album was followed by another gem, "Death or glory," which drove me to examine the band's latest work: "Stronger than evil," dated 1983, a period when other great metal albums were being released (Piece of mind and Kill 'em all above all). From the group's seventies origins, only the two Wahlquist brothers remained, while the bass was entrusted to Torbjörn Ragnesjö and the honor of the drums went to Eddy Malm.

These four minds produced an album that is once again considered a "silent" pillar of the most epic metal, regarded on par with "Open the gates" for Manilla Road. Yet, after listening to the Swedish trio, this last one is the one that most perplexes me. Compared to the other two, it lacks power, a desire to stand out, and you don’t feel that raw sound that made the previous two chapters, especially "Full speed at high level," an absolute masterpiece. The result is an excellent fast heavy metal album with some rocking inserts here and there, but the pathos of the beginnings is almost entirely lost. Let it be clear: with what I've said I’m not downgrading the album, which if it came from any modern band, would be elevated to a cult object to be worshipped in the squares by legions and legions of metallers. In fact, the great attitude of our heroes is confirmed by the two superb opening tracks: "Run with the devil", a crazy bullet of '80s heavy metal, and the splendid "The king", one of the best songs ever composed by the band, one of those to be passed down through the centuries.

So, despite a dazzling start, the album begins to show its small cracks with the subsequent tracks, all of fine quality, badass enough but a mere shadow compared to the past. Thus, in an album that in the opinion of the writer is not particularly exceptional, the semi-ballad "Dreaming" appears even more precious, enriched by the grating voice of Ragne Wahlquist. Otherwise, Stronger than evil does not take off, too anchored to itself. Despite eight tracks of epic metal, apart from two/three that stand out above the others, the remaining songs do not fully engage, almost cold in their progression.

The third work of the Swedes is a piece that for all those who love the genre should not be missed and a good opportunity for those who do not know them to approach their underground attitude, typical of those who developed their personal musical creed in hardships, without money and adequate tools to emerge. Heavy Load, in this regard, have much to teach thousands of today's bands. Long live them.

1. "Run With The Devil" (3:44)
2. "The King" (4:22)
3. "Singing Swords" (5:30)
4. "Dreaming" (5:55)
5. "Stronger Than Evil" (7:11)
6. "Free" (4:12)
7. "Saturday Night" (4:51)
8. "Roar Of The North" (5:25)