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"If "Freedom Rock" differs from its predecessor only on rare occasions, it nevertheless confirms the talent of a band to which it only remains to affirm a little more personality."
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4/5
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Two years after their eponymous debut album, which allowed them to establish themselves in Scandinavia and tour with several big names including Edguy, Treat and The Poodles, the six members of H.E.A.T. are back with a new opus entitled "Freedom Rock". Commonly known as the confirmation stage, this is usually an opportunity either to try and assert an identity already present on the inaugural work, or to take more risks by moving away from the shores of origin towards new horizons. In the case of our melodic Swedes, the first option is clearly the one chosen, since the formula differs only in a few points from what was proposed on "H.E.A.T.".
At the same time, why change a winning team, especially as critics and the public seem to expect nothing else from their compatriots in Europe. Under these conditions, 'We're Gonna Make It To The End' is a classic but unstoppably effective track, with a melodic riff and a catchy chorus. We're still in this dynamic AOR, typical of the Scandinavian regions, which doesn't necessarily show a lot of originality, but is irresistible if served with the necessary enthusiasm and talent. Titles using the same formula follow one another, modifying the ingredients sufficiently to continue to capture the amateur's attention without the slightest feeling of weariness. 'I Can't Look The Other Way' is a bit more catchy on the verses, 'Stay' has an excellent guitar duel on its solo, 'Nobody' Loves You (Like I Do)' is enriched with the best effect female vocals, while 'I Know What It Takes' sums up the whole wonderfully: simple and effective with a catchy chorus.
The few evolutions compared to the previous opus are to be found within a composition process that now integrates all the members of the band, but also on some accelerations that manage to surprise us as we didn't expect them anymore. If 'Black Night' takes advantage of the presence of Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) to strengthen its message, 'Beg Beg Beg' and 'High On Love' are like tornadoes with a communicative energy that keeps the intensity of the album throughout its duration thanks to these tempo variations. In this approach, the ballads are perfectly integrated by avoiding any mawkishness ('Shelter') and preferably using mid-tempo ('Everybody Wants To Be Someone'), while a track like 'Cast Away' plays the alternation between delicate verses and more rhythmic choruses.
In only two albums, H.E.A.T. is thus directly integrated into the bests AOR / Hard Melodic bands. If this new opus differs from its predecessor only on rare occasions, it nevertheless confirms the talent of a band to which it only remains to affirm a little more personality. In the meantime, any lover of music that is both melodic and dynamic must take an interest in this combo that is as talented as it is endearing. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. We're Gonna Make It To The End - 4:12 02. Black Night (feat. Tobias Sammet) - 4:03 03. I Can't Look The Other Way - 4:16 04. Shelter - 3:30 05. Beg Beg Beg - 3:03 06. Danger Road - 3:01 07. Stay - 3:26 08. Everybody Wants To Be Someone - 3:34 09. Nobody Loves You (like I Do) - 2:57 10. I Know What It Takes - 3:05 11. Cast Away - 4:02 12. High On Love - 2:29 13. Who Will Stop The Rain - 4:10
LINEUP:
Dave Dalone : Guitares Don Crash: Batterie Eric Rivers : Guitares Jimmy Jay: Basse Jona Tee : Claviers Kenny Leckremo: Chant Tobias Sammet: Chant / Invité
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