Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Bullet Highway Pirates Company: Black Lodge Release: 2011 Genre: Reviewer: EC

Delivers a quality good time

Sweden has gone nuts. No doubt about it. The country is laying siege to the best power and traditional metal; dethroning the long-time champ Germany in total metal worship. Everyone knows that California's Sunset Strip has moved to Gothenburg with acts like Hardcore Superstar and Crazy Lixx just tearing it up. Whether it is sleeze, glam or just great hard rock with or without modern interpretation, Sweden proves to be the best of the best. Another mighty band that has come out of that hard rock scene is a band called Bullet. Their previous album, "Bite The Bullet", gained phenomenal success and instigated a new delivery from the boys that promises to be their best.

Bullet bring in experienced producer Tobias Lindell (Hardcore Superstar, Mustasch, Europe) to turn the knobs on "Highway Pirates". This production does more in the way of distancing the Swedes from the familiar AC\DC knockoff. Sure songs like "Back On The Road", "Blood Run Hot" and "Stay Wild" are reminiscent of the most famous Aussies, but beyond that the band dips into that clever early 80s sound. The title track could have been lifted from a Saxon relic (complete with guest Biff) with vocals that bring to mind Nazareth or Accept. "Fire And Dynamite" runs the Krokus gambit and "Into The Night" is just like a "Screaming For Vengeance" staple.

The end result delivers a quality good time that will never...EVER...be mistaken for an original idea. There isn't one. But that's okay because Bullet aren't attempting to re-invent the wheel here. They are picking up where others have left off and continuing that late 70s and early 80s sound that was such a party vibe back in the day. For those looking for more innovation--look elsewhere. For the others, pop a top and chug it on down cause it's about to get LOUD.