Description

After taking the world (OK, maybe just Sweden and Japan) by storm with their self-titled 2008 debut, Swedish melodic rockers Heat came back in 2010 with their eagerly-anticipated follow-up album Freedom Rock. Expectations were high, and the band definitely did not let fans down with this one. The first Heat album is all but impossible to top, but the band pretty much turned everything up to 11 with Freedom Rock. The hooks are bigger, the melodies are catchier, the production is slicker, and the vocal harmonies are just huge. They even got Edguy/Avantasia mainman Tobias Sammet to make a guest appearance on the bombastic ‘Black Night’. This was Kenny Leckremos last album with the band, and he really went out with style. His vocals are incredibly powerful, especially the harmonies, though he doesn't sound quite as smooth here. Listing highlights is kind of pointless when every song is a potential single, but "We're Gonna Make It," "Shelter" and "I Know What It Takes" definitely stand out. As for comparing Freedom Rock to the debut, it's sort of like comparing Journey's Escape to Frontiers. Both are amazing, and each has its own character. As with the debut Heat album, Freedom Rock is easy to recommend. If you're a melodic rock fan, your collection is not complete without this album. Whether you're a fan of classic AOR bands like Journey and Survivor, late `80s rockers like King Kobra and Giant or modern melodic rockers like Brother Firetribe and Outloud, you will become a Heat fan before the first song is over. Track listing: 1. Were Gonna Make It 2. Black Night-with Tobias Sammet 3. I Cant look The Other Way 4. Shelter 5. Beg Beg Beg 6. Danger Road 7. Stay 2010 8. Everybody wants To Be Someone 9. Nobody Loves You Like I Do 10. I Know What It Takes 11. Cast Away 12. High On Love 13. Who Will Stop The Rain