2008 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year in terms of the quality of new releases and the debut effort from H.E.A.T. is the latest to add to that list. With a style formed in the late 80s, but with all the benefits of a modern production, H.E.A.T. play unashamed good time, infectious melodic rock. 

Vocalist Kenny Leckremo has more than a tinge of Joey Tempest about his voice. As I’ve commented several times in the past, there really must be something in the Scandinavian water that produces this never ending conveyor belt of superb rock singers. His vocal range is excellent and whilst the whole band is good, he is the undoubted star for me. 

After the short intro piece, There For You and Never Let Go perfectly sum up the H.E.A.T. style and philosophy – anthemic songs, great vocals, harmony backing vocals and decent guitar work. The quality of this release serves to remind me why melodic rock really is my absolutely favourite rock genre. 

OK, so there’s nothing particularly new or ground breaking with this type of release, but I’d rather a band do justice to an existing format than try to be completely different just for the sake of it.  

H.E.A.T sound like a cross between old style Europe and modern day Brother Firetribe, take the best bits of both and add some hugely infectious tunes and great sing-a-long choruses and you get a truly superb slab of melodic rock which deserves to feature highly in the end of year Top 10 lists of any discerning rock fan.

Paul Williams