The Quill - Born From Fire (CD)

Swedish retro rockers The Quill have gone through various styles and line-ups. Now they have returned bringing back singer Magnus Ekwall, flanked by guitarist Christian Carlsson, bass player Roger Nilsson and drummer Jolle Atlagic. The new effort kicks off with Stone Believer and immediately Black Sabbath and in particular Zero The Hero comes to mind. No, it's not plagiarism, only very similar in feel. This is my favorite Quill line-up and they do not disappoint! Snake Charmer Woman proves the opener was no fluke. This one kicks it up a few notches in speed, but the heaviness prevails. Ghosthorse is more Sabbath than Sabbath. It's a track I think Iommi would wish he wrote today! What a killer!! Keep It Together takes it down a notch, starting off with naked vocals and Univibe-drenched guitar. It then leads us into Sabbath's Snowblind territory. There's not a weak track on the entire album, the mix is fat, full and fucking crushing, the band sounds better than ever and this is one kick-ass release you should not miss out on! 
Janne Stark

Label: Metalville
Country: Sweden
Year: 2017

TRANSPORT LEAGUE – Boogie From Hell (CD)

It’s been over ten years since the band’s previous album Multiple Organ Harvest. So has the power weakened, or are they still a force to be reckoned with? Time to check out this Boogie From Hell then. Suck me sideways!! This album is really a musical kick in the joint! Swing Satanic Swing starts off with a punch in the nose and continues like a steamroller with its power-stomp! This is brutal! Transport League has always been a Swedish institution of powerful metal, but I think I may have really re-discovered this Gothenburg foursome on this album. The sound is like a ton of bricks, with Roberto Laghi providing his usual powerful mix! The songs are really groovy for being so heavy, which really makes the title appropriate. Tony is a vocal power plant with a brutal, throaty, raspy voice that fits the music like a glove. He sounds a bit like James Richard Anderson of Texas Hippie Coalition on steroids. What I really love is that it’s not just chord-crunching, but lots of cool heavy riffs being thrown around. I also hear a strong southern touch, which may interest fans of bands like Hell Yeah, THD and Anti-Mortem. This is a bloody great album, indeed!

Janne Stark

Label: Metalville

Year: 2014

Country: Sweden

RIOT HORSE – This Is Who We Are (CD digi)

It’s funny. Sometimes the grass is actually greener on your side of the fence. I had never heard of local band Riot Horse, until they just appeared out of nowhere and released the debut This Is Who We Are. Well, guys, now I do know who you are, and I must say I really like what you do! Sweden has been blessed with a shitload of great bands in various genres. It’s however not all death/black metal, stoner or 80s melodic rock. There seems to be a new wave of retro hard rock going on here with a load of great bands paying homage to the golden era of the seventies. Riot Horse has definitely struck on that retro nerve. However, the opening track feels more akin to the southern oriented hard rock of colleagues Rebel Road with its bluesy, southern-ish vibe. Bring ‘Em On, however, definitely throws you back to the good old Zeppelin style riff rock. It’s no wonder Riot Horse is on the same label as colleagues The Quill. They could form a killer live bill and attract the same audience. Former Bai Bang members, bass player Joacim Sandin and drummer Jonas Langebro are definitely more on their home turf here, at least their performance feels that way. Singer Andreas Sydow is perfect for the band’s sound and style, which also applies to guitarist Nille Schüttman, who actually reminds me a bit of The Lizards’ string bender Patrick Klein, which ain’t bad in my book. Good stuff indeed!

Janne Stark

Year: 2014

Country: Sweden

Label: Metalville