Into the Great Unknown


Into the Great Unknown is the fifth studio album by Swedish melodic hard rock band H.E.A.T. Released worldwide on September 22, 2017 by the label Gain and produced by Tobias Lindell, it was recorded after a multi-year hiatus for the group. The album has received praise from publications such as Louder and among others.

Background and production details

The group's last album was 2014's Tearing Down the Walls. According to a press release, the band decided to record Into the Great Unknown in Bangkok, Thailand, having already come up with ten possible songs to use, and used the facilities of Karma Sound Studios. The release also stated that H.e.a.t took inspiration at the modern resurgence in public attention, particularly among young adults, of older artists considered "classic rock heroes" such as Foreigner, Journey, and Whitesnake.
It is the band's second release without a founding guitarist, in this case Eric Rivers.
In August 2017, the group released the track "Redefined" along with a music video depicting footage of H.E.A.T in the studio.

Reviews

Writing for Louder, music critic Dom Lawson praised the release for featuring a "thrilling formula that made the Swedes’ previous albums such a goofy delight." He remarked that the "effervescent presence and towering voice of frontman Erik Grönwall make everything from... sound vital and timely without sacrificing any of that mid-80s sheen." Lawson concluded, "The best way to get drawn into H.E.A.T’s world of singalong euphoria is to catch them live, but this album will provide more than enough dizzying, life-affirming joy in the meantime."
' also published a supportive review. The publication highlighted the change of pace in some tracks, noting the inclusion of emotional ballads and how multiple songs feature prominent keyboard playing. Stating that the "stunning" release "breaks new commercial ground", the online music magazine additionally declared that "Into The Great Unknown should be used as a benchmark in modern melodic rock production."
' has a sum score of 4.59 of 6 stars, indicating a mostly positive reception.

Track listing

  1. "Bastard of Society"
  2. "Redefined"
  3. "Shit City"
  4. "Time on Our Side"
  5. "Best of the Broken"
  6. "Eye of the Storm"
  7. "Blind Leads the Blind"
  8. "We Rule"
  9. "Do You Want It?"
  10. "Into the Great Unknown"

    Personnel