Heavy Load

Biography

Heavy Load is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm. The band is often hailed as the first Swedish heavy metal band, and were known for their Viking themes. The Wahlquist brothers, who founded the band in 1976 along with Michael Backler, were later producers and owners of Thunderload Records in Sweden, were at one point producing Veni Domine, and also Candlemass.
Various touring and demo line-ups of the band have included UFO and The Damned bass player Paul Gray, Treat guitarist Leif Liljegren, and the architect Eero Koivisto on bass. Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy played the bass on "Free" from the LP Stronger than Evil×Stronger Than EvilOctober 1983 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Run With the Devil3:44A2The King4:22A3Singing Swords5:30A4Dreaming5:55B1Stronger Than Evil7:11B2Free4:11B3Saturday Night4:51B4Roar of the North5:25 - also as a single-release. Renowned Swedish music journalist and SVT music show host Anders Tengner acted as the band's manager from 1978 to 1985. Misfortune struck when Thunderload Studios got severely damaged due to a water leakage in the 2000s, which meant a halt to its official existence. After the breakup, the members then went on and performed with other bands.
The band reformed in October 2017 and announced a series of shows for 2018, including an appearance at that year's Sweden Rock Festival in June.
On September 6, 2023, the band announced their first album in 40 years, Riders of the Ancient Storm×Riders of the Ancient Storm6 October 2023 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Ride the Night5:182We Rock the World4:123Walhalla Warriors5:454Angel Dark6:115Slave No More8:176Raven Is Calling6:287Sail Away5:318Butterfly Whispering7:06, which was released on October 6.
On January 7, 2025, it was announced that founder Ragne Wahlquist had died at the age of 69. The band was at the time of his death working on a new album which they say will be completed.

Current

Styrbjörn Wahlquist – drums, vocals, percussion (1976–1985, 2017–present)
Torbjörn Ragnesjö – bass guitar (1979–1984, 2017–present)
Nic Savage - guitars (2018–present)

Former

Paul Gray - bass guitar (1986–??)
Ragne Wahlquist – guitars, vocals, keyboards (1976–1985, 2017–2025; his death)
Patrick Karlsson - guitar (1986–??)
Andreas Fritz – bass guitar (1984–1985)
Leif Liljegren – guitar (1979)
Eero Koivisto – bass guitar (1979)
Dan Molén – bass guitar (1978–1979)
Michael Backler – bass guitar (1976–1977)
Eddy Malm – guitar, vocals (1978–1985)
Micke Söderström – keyboards (2018)
Johan Westre – keyboards (2018)

Studio albums

Full Speed at High Level (1978)
Death or Glory (1982)
Stronger Than Evil (1983)
Riders of the Ancient Storm (2023)

Others

"Take Me Away×Take me away1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Take me away4:212Trespasser3:52" (single, 1982)
Live (VHS, 1983)
"Free" (single, 1983)
"Monsters of the Night×Monsters of the Night1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAMonsters of the NightBI'm Alive" (single, 1985)