The band that started the Swedish wave of heavy metal is back: Heavy Load! Four decades have passed since Heavy Load released their latest album: “Stronger Than Evil” (1983). Years before the rest of the northern world, their songs ventured into Viking themes and existential lyrics, spearheading a movement way ahead of its time. The compositions are dramatic and render a great variety of moods, while passionate innovation and creative fervor are always shining bright in every song on the album – pioneering 101!
Heavy Load’s comeback album “Riders of the Ancient Storm” rings of their well-known sound and songwriting. Thanks to an epic pact between the band and No Remorse Records, the band’s whole back catalog is brought back as high quality re-releases. After releases in 2018 and 2019, more will follow. The records come with bonus tracks and old recordings never before heard by the public, and extensive booklets. It’s a release long awaited by people all over the globe – and it will be followed by many concerts to come. Heavy Load is back!
But there’s more: Singer, guitarist, keyboarder and producer Ragne Wahlquist – who is also an avid author – will release a special edition of his soon-to-launch Wahlgaard Saga, a Viking family saga in a series of novels, along with the band’s new album. Adding to the gravitational pull of this overarching theme, “Riders of the Ancient Storm”, which references passages of the Wahlgaard Saga on numerous occasions, will also be available as a Luxury Box including the English version of Wahlquist’s book. In addition, this crazy package (limited to 300 hand numbered copies) contains the digipak CD, coloured vinyl, a t-shirt and a poster – a heavy load indeed, ain’t it?
“Riders of the Ancient Storm” will be available on October 6th, 2023, early birds can pre-order here. More stores and main distributors will follow.
Tracklist:
1. Ride the Night
2. We Rock the World
3. Walhalla Warriors
4. Angel Dark
5. Slave No More
6. Raven is Calling
7. Sail Away
8. Butterfly Whisperings (CD bonus track)
Good news also for all fans at Keep It True Rising festival in Würzburg (GER) next month, as Heavy Load (Styrbjörn and Ragne Wahlquist) are looking forward to meeting you at a signing session on the day of their album release. Check the festival website and social media channels for details.
Heavy Load was established in Stockholm during the grim winter of 1974-1975 by the two brothers Ragne Wahlquist (vocals, guitars and keyboards) and Styrbjörn Wahlquist (vocals and drums). The vision and the passion of the Wahlquist brothers was always the kernel of the band’s determined drive – their drive to venture out on musical journeys and to spread their music and lyrics to the world.
The two inventive minds wouldn’t have outsiders get in the way of shaping their own future as heavy metal pioneers: As producers and owners of the Thunderload Studio, they’ve shaped a sound that would quickly become the blueprint for European doom metal, starting with Candlemass’ groundbreaking “Epicus Doomicus Metallicus” album and followed by the band’s iconic “Nightfall”. And with Yngwie Malmsteen, Morbid and Hammerfall, the fruitful exploration of new ground wouldn’t stop.
Speaking of explorers: The Viking heritage has been an important source of inspiration ever since their childhood. The brothers’ emotional connection to people of a remote past, people with whom they share everlasting human challenges, was destined to find an outlet in their music. As a consequence, the brothers merged 70s Hard Rock with Viking settings and sentiments, resulting in the band’s distinctive style of music, lyrics and artwork for their album covers: Viking Metal – a style which came to inspire later bands in Sweden and elsewhere, a style that now has many followers around the globe. However, although the Viking themes have always been a salient trait in Heavy Load’s songwriting, Some of their songs rendered stories with other settings. No matter the setting, though, all songs have their source deep down in the brothers’ emotional life.
Line-up:
Ragne Wahlquist: Vocals, Lead Guitar and Keyboards
Styrbjörn Wahlquist: Vocals and Drums
Torbjörn Ragnesjö: Bass Guitar
Niclas Sunnerberg: Guitar and Backing Vocals
Weblinks:
www.heavyload-sweden.com
www.facebook.com/heavyloadofficial
