H.E.A.T

H.E.A.T is the debut album by H.E.A.T, the band formed in Upplands Väsby near Stockholm when two groups, Dream and Trading Fate, merged. Released on StormVox, the label run by actor Peter Stormare, it reignites the appeal of 1980s melodic hard rock and AOR with youthful energy. Original vocalist Kenny Leckremo's soaring, powerful voice joins Jona Tee's glittering keyboards and the clear riffs of the twin guitars, sounding a Scandinavian sense of form across the record that recalls Europe. The opening — from “Intro,” which mimics the sound of a plane taking off, tumbling into “There for You” — sets the album's lift at once. “Late Night Lady” and “Keep on Dreaming” carry immediate hooks, and the ballad “Follow Me” makes an impression through the conviction of the singing. Through to “Feel the Heat,” it keeps the density of a hits collection with no filler. In 2009 they drew wide attention at Melodifestivalen with “1000 Miles,” a song later added to the reissue. Rough but full of talent, it is a firm starting point for the career.