The Call

When it came to my attention that Dan Heiman had left Lost Horizon, I was naturally disappointed as I knew that his voice was not something that you encounter every day, in fact I don’t think I’ve heard anyone quite like him. However, naturally when the announcement of a new band for the ex-Lost Horizon vocalist and former guitarist of the same band Fredrik Olsson materialized, I began to see it as a new chapter in the book of heavy metal.

The first thing that one should understand about Heed is that although the vocalist is still the same one that gave us such classics as “Perfect Warrior” and “Lost in the Depths of Me”, there are many differences between this act and the one it’s members came from. The songs are much shorter and structurally much simpler, the overall atmosphere is heavier, and the keyboards play more of a support role and less of an active one. When you combine all of the elements mentioned with a few well placed modern effects and studio tricks, you actually get something a bit similar to Nocturnal Rites on the Afterlife album, albeit with a singer that possesses nearly twice the range of that band’s vocalist.

Lyrically the subject matter on this release is not all that different from the consistent message of self-empowerment found on Lost Horizon’s work, although songs such as “Nothing”, “The Other Side” and “Ashes” contain a sense of personal vulnerability that was not found on their two albums nor probably will ever appear on any future releases by them. “I’m Alive” and “Enemy” are probably the most similar to Lost Horizon lyrically out of all the songs on here.

Olsson’s lead playing and general riffing on here is highly reminiscent of post-Sacred Talisman era Nocturnal Rites. “Last Drop of Blood”, “Hypnosis” and “Tears of Prodigy” almost sound like they could have appeared on either “Shadowland” or “The Grand Illusion”. However, Olsson’s lead work is not quite as climactic and riveting as Nils Norberg’s, but it works equally as well as Heiman’s vocals are the primary thrust of the music and it wouldn’t due having an equally present impresario confusing the music and it’s audience.

So what are the highlights of this album? There aren’t any, I don’t skip any songs when I listen to this album; everything is essentially where it should be. You’ve got triumphant anthems with some modern twists in songs like “I’m Alive”, “The Permanent End Celebration” and “Tears of Prodigy”. You also have an all acoustic ballad in “Nothing”, which highlights the emotional and technical capabilities of Dan Heiman as a singer. You’ve got slow thudding heavy tracks like “The Other Side”, “Last Drop of Blood”, and “Enemy”. Faster tracks like “Hypnosis” and “Ashes” are sure to please the grassroots power metal faithful. In short, you get it all in one nice little compact CD.

In addition to the stellar music on here, we also have some rather surprising guest appearances from artists that I used to think were 2nd raters. Kee Marcello, one time replacement guitarist for John Norum in the infamous progressive rock band Europe rips out a mean as hell set of lead slots in “Flight”, a rather impressive bonus track. Goran Edman, the person whom I view as the worst vocalist that Yngwie Malmsteen ever had, puts his efforts in as a backup vocalist to help Heiman fill out the textures of his many inspired choruses. Both of these men have reputations as being attached to fluffy 80s music, and here they have aided in the creation of one of the heaviest power metal albums ever put out.

In conclusion, although this is a far cry from what Lost Horizon has done up till now, I encourage fans of the band to pick it up. If you like Nocturnal Rites, Falconer, or any of the other heavier Power Metal acts out there this is a must have. I listen to it off myself and regard it as one of the best albums of 2005; get off your ass and get yourself a copy now.