This is one of the best live albums I've ever heard.
Recorded in London at Islington's Garage in May 2014 and produced by Grammy award winner Tobias Lindell, this is the closest thing you'll get to actually being there. Over sixty minutes and fifteen tracks, H.e.a.t melodically melt the faces of the audience and prove that they have what it takes to be not only a rising, but an enduring force within the world's Melodic Rock genre.
These young Swedes have progressed through several singers, and the departure of guitarist Dave Dalone, to be one of the best live bands around with an energy and enthusiasm which hasn't been seen for a long time. Honed to perfection, this five-piece is now a band to be reckoned with, both on record and within the live arena. Eric Rivers has managed to excel as a guitarist since Dalone's departure and the sound is in no way lacking without a second guitarist. Obviously, the band's musical leader Jona Tee is now more to the forefront, but again, the sound isn't overshadowed by him. With the backbone of bassist Jimmy Jay and drummer Crash (a man far too handsome for his own good), they really have found their stride.
After the show, apparently the band weren't particularly happy with their performance due to some on-stage technical issues, but when they listened back to the recording, they were astounded by just how little post production needed to be done.
The set draws on H.e.a.t's four studio albums and Erik Gronwall is well and truly at the helm now, allaying any fears that a TV talent show winner would struggle to be a Rock star.
With a track listing as follows – 'Point Of No Return', 'A Shot At Redemption', 'Better Off Alone', '1000 Miles', 'It's All About Tonight', 'Inferno', 'The Wreckoning/ Tearing Down The Walls', 'Mannequin Show', 'Late Nite Lady', 'In And Out Of Trouble', 'Downtown', 'Enemy In Me', 'Emergency', 'Breaking The Silence', and 'Living On The Run' – it is about as good a set as I've ever seen them do, although 'Beg, Beg, Beg' would've been the icing on the cake for me.
With a wealth of festival appearances planned for this coming summer, there can honestly be no better way to prepare than to listen to this album full blast...on a daily basis! In summary, basically, this is one of the best live albums I've ever heard.
Sue Ashcroft