SWEDISH HEAVY METAL: A TIMELINE

This timeline was originally written by Per-Ola 'Mordred' Nilsson back in 2004. He sent me a bunch of articles to publish on this site but since some of the material was written in Swedish I didn't know what to do with it. In 2016 I finally decided to translate it into English for the world to see. (and now in 2025 it's time for this article to get re-published on the Ruthless Metal blog) This is not in any way the complete history of Swedish heavy metal music as there was quite a vibrant underground scene going on at the time. Labels like Platina, Fingerprint and Pang Records were busy printing new singles, EP's and albums. There were also a ton of obscure compilation LP's pressed at the time that helped to spread the heavy metal gospel, so that the underground bands would get their first break. There were also a lot of other prominent hard rock and heavy metal bands of the eighties that hardly gets mentioned here. This timeline primarily follows the rise and fall of some of Sweden's most iconic heavy metal acts of the eighties. The main focus is put on bands like TORCH, GOTHAM CITY, OVERDRIVE, AXEWITCH, MINDLESS SINNER and of course HEAVY LOAD.

I also want to give a shout-out to some of the pioneering bands of the seventies for laying down the first building blocks on the Swedish hard rocking scene: November, Kebnekaise, Trettioåriga Kriget, Wasa Express, Alexander Lucas, Neon Rose and all the rest. But the focus of this timeline is put on The First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal so the proggy blues rocking bands of the seventies have to be excused. I present to you, the Swedish Heavy Metal Timeline:

1978

Hard Rock begins to slowly become viable again, in the midst of the punk wave. As opposed to the rest of the heavy metal bands from their native Sweden, Heavy Load was two years ahead with everything. HEAVY LOAD managed to put out the debut LP "Full Speed at High Level," in 1978 through the Heavy Sound label. The album sold reasonably well even though the hard rock genre was pronounced dead by the media. The following years Heavy Load's lineup stabled and they spent time perfecting their craft by playing live as often as possible.

Heavy Load - Full Speed At High Level (1978)

1979-80

"The New Wave of British Heavy Metal" washes over the UK. Sweden's E.F. BAND relocates to England and gets associated with the movement even though they were a Swedish band. E.F. BAND released three singles (Night Angel, Self Made Suicide & The Devil's Eye) and they start to attract a loyal fan base.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1979/1980: Horoscope - Come to Me / Gryningen. Turbo - Nattens Barn, Silver Mountain - Man of no present Existence, E.F. Band - Night Angel, E.F. Band - Self Made Suicide, E.F. Band - The Devil's Eye, Jeremiah - Roch å Strul / Lost in Lund.

1981

The year is 1981. On the British Isles The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) rages and hard rock and heavy metal bands climbs their way up the charts. Sweden is as usual two years behind with everything. Most Swedish bands at the time played prog rock or punk and it was almost a sin to not make music in the native Swedish language, but in 1981 things started to happen here too. Rehearsal rooms filled up with young band that are tried to imitate the sounds of IRON MAIDEN and SAXON, and young people in long hair and studded clothes become increasingly more common.

In 1981, HEAVY LOAD from Stockholm released the five track-EP "Metal Conquest". The EP was harder and stylistically less fragmented than the debut and now there was a completely different interest in HEAVY LOAD's type of music.

- Kerrang was published in 1981 and also a French hard rock magazine that I do not remember the name of. There were many more channels to spread your music through and it was due to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Ragne Wahlquist recalls, guitarist and part-time singer in Heavy Load.

With "Metal Conquest" the band found it's style and that led to more opportunities and gigs all around Sweden.

Noteable LP and EP's from 1981: E.F. Band - Last Laugh is on You, Overdrive - Reflexions, Heavy load - Metal Conquest, Quix - S/T

Noteable 7 inchers from 1981: Trazer - Street Fighter / Badly Reason, Arrows - Wounded in Love / I Wan't to Give you Rock'n' Roll

1982

1982 was the year when heavy metal began to gain a foothold in Sweden. Bands that worked on perfecting their craft in the garages and rehearsal rooms around Sweden began to feel ready for bigger things and a wave of singles and EP's were released, usually funded by the bands themselves. In 1982 you could for the first time buy records by classic Swedish heavy metal bands like GOTHAM CITY, AXEWITCH, MERCY, TORCH and OVERDRIVE. For HEAVY LOAD 1982 was a substantial step forward. It started with two live concerts that were broadcasted on Swedish Radio and then a tour throughout the nation of Sweden. Later this year the LP "Death o Glory was released, which became a huge success.

- Kerrang wrote a lot about us and we gigged all around Sweden. The interest was very high. We set attendance records many times, says Styrbjörn Wahlquist, drummer and, like his big brother Ragne, part-time singer in Heavy Load.

During this year, the record labels in Sweden begins to realize that the heavy metal genre could not be silenced, and that there were a market for heavier music.

In 1982, The record label Pang Records released vinyl singles with bands like Zone Zero, Arrowz and Spitfire amongst others. Pang Records would often be accused of fleecing young people by giving out singles against payment. Today, Pang-singles are highly collectible.

Late in December of 1982, something almost sensational happened in the televised Swedish Rock Championship finals. The winners was a heavy metal band that sings in English, something that was beforehand was unthinkable. The band was called EUROPE and they are not without significance for this story.

Noteable LP and EP's from 1982: Axewitch - Pray For Metal, E.F. Band - Deep Cut, Glory Bell's Band - Dressed in Black, Onyx - S/T, Torch - Fire Raiser, Mercy - Swedish Metal, Leviticus - Stå och Titta På, Vampa - Vampa, Heavy Load - Death or Glory.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1982: 220 Volt - Prisoner of War / Sauron, Achilleus - Allt Vi Begär, Arrows - Wounded in Love, Arrowz - Bird of Steel, Behemoth - Death Wings, Flame - S/T, Gotham City - Gotham City / Killer Angels, Keen Hue - One of Two / Spread Your Wings of Fire, Nattsvart - Vargarna / Drakens Öga, Publikförakt - The Night of Horror, Renegade - Rock 'Til You Die, Rising - Metal Bird / She Got Bright Eyes, Sergeant - Doubt / Connection, Spitfire - Heavy Rock'n'Roller / In the Night, Squetters - S/T, Stitch - Devil's Deal, Victim - Framtid med Hopp, Wulcan - Mysterier / Travellin'.

Heavy Load - Death or Glory (1982)

1983

One could say that 1983 was the big year for the domestic heavy metal scene in Sweden. To begin with, The iconic record label Fingerprint Records forms, which ironically would both help and hinder the development of Swedish heavy metal. But so far everything is fine and dandy

- Now there is a label that are willing to embrace and market heavy metal music in Sweden.

One of the first bands to be contracted by Fingerprint Records was the Linköping constellation Axewitch. The group had independently released the four track-EP "Pray for Metal" in 1982 and now came the LP "The Lord of Flies," which quickly made Axewitch a pretty popular band in Sweden.

- We were very pleased with the LP. It was the first time we were in a real studio, so it was like Christmas for us. Though the studio technicians probably thought that we were pretty bad musicians, Magnus Jarl (guitarist of Axewitch) recalls.

- Working with Fingerprint was great during the first year. They promised us a lot of things, but in the end it didn't turn out so well.

Although, Fingerprint Records managed to put together Sweden's first heavy metal tour in the autumn of 1983.

Axewitch travelled the roads of Sweden together with TORCH from Eskilstuna, a band that also had album debuted recently, Stockholm based Silver Mountain was also a part of the tour. In terms of public interest, the tour was a great success. But for the first time, the Fingerprint label started to show a less attractive side.

- The Booking agencies did not get the money they were promised and they refused to continue without money. We would have continued the tour through Belgium and Germany in January of 1984 but that did not happen, says Magnus Jarl.

HEAVY LOAD steamed ahead and released the LP "Stronger Than Evil". It was yet another success and is considered by many fans as their greatest moment. During the year, the band made a successful gig at the "Draken" (The Dragon) in Stockholm, which is one of Heavy Load's finest moments according to the Wahlquist brothers.

- It was quite difficult to get gigs in Stockholm. The audience that demanded to to see heavy metal was young, often between 12 and 20 years of age and there were hardly any places that are not served alcohol, so they could not enter, says Styrbjörn Wahlquist.

- So we rented "Draken" and played in front of 1100 people. The crowd sang along to all the lyrics, so it was like playing with a 1000 man strong choir. Though I was sitting behind the drums, I heard the choir singing back to the band.

In 1983 the not so insignificant EUROPE reaped the fruits of profit after winning the Swedish Rock Championships and they released their first LP. Already at this time the band had a major business management around them and their self-titled debut album sold unbelievable 30 000 copies. Though EUROPE was never inspired by the NWOBHM but rather by the more melodic stuff, such as WHITESNAKE and THIN LIZZY. Still, there was some potency behind John Norums guitar play. Few anticipated that a few years later EUROPE would go on and become one of the leaders of a softer rock genre that would seal the fate of heavy metal.

In 1983, 220 Volt album debuted and Pang Records released singles from bands like Lezlie Paice, Treasure and Shakespeare.

Noteable LP and EP's from 1983: Heavy Load - Stronger Than Evil, Crystal Pride - Silverhawk, Savagers - Preacher of Steel, Axe Witch - The Lord of Flies, Burn - Burn, Gotham City - Black Writs, Mindless Sinner - Master of Evil, Six Feet Under - Six Feet Under, Torch - Torch, Leviticus - Jag Skall Segra, Europe - Europe, Silver Mountain - Shakin' Brains, Trash - Watch Out, Overdrive - Metal Attack, 220 Volt - 220 Volt, Biscaya - Biscaya.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1983: Airbourne - In the United Kingdom, Crystal Pride - S/T, Exciters - My Bad Stars / Metal Man, Grave - Screaming from the Grace / Dreamer, Hiroshima - Soldier of the World / Nuclear Nightmare, Lezlie Paice - Fighting Man, Marcus Brutus Band - Stand Back / Pictures of my Mind, R & R - Adventures Behind the Eye / The Way of Evil, Shakespeare - Orphan Devil / Sneaking Around, Succé - Dom Kan Dra / Vilsen i Stan, Teamwork - Hesitation / Wonder, Torsten - King of the Nest, Treasure - Women in Black / Spirit of the North, Wanton - Motorcycle Man / I Want You

Heavy Load - Stronger Than Evil (1983)

1984

This was the year when the Swedish heavy metal scene started to be crowded, bands that were considered talented were presented with opporunities, Often thanks to Fingerprint Records, which took more and more heavy metal bands under their wings. For Example MINDLESS SINNER released a four track EP in January of '84.Like AXEWITCH, MINDLESS SINNER came from Linköping and were presented to the label thanks to AXEWITCH.

The EP was called "Masters of Evil", and it sold fairly well and made MINDLESS SINNER a force to be reckoned with. But at the same time Fingerprint started to show less flattering sides.

The EP was released with a less attractive cover, without letting the band get in their way, in addition to that Fingerprint managed to spell the band name wrong on the cover of the album.

- It was crap to work with Fingerprint. But I was 18 at the time and we were happy just to be able to record an album. We thought we'd be destined for stardom, says Christer Göransson vocalist in MINDLESS SINNER.

An album that struck down like a missile during 1984 was the LP "The Unknown" by GOTHAM CITY from Umeå. GOTHAM CITY had independently released a self-titled single in 1982 and an EP titled "Black Writs" in 1983 (Both records being coveted collectibles today). On those releases the band was hampered by some inadequate singing and bad English pronounciation. For the LP, however, the band made some changes in the lineup. the band recruited Anders Zackrisson to handle the vocal duties. (As in the late 90's could be heard in the band NOCTURNAL RITES.)

- We wanted move up the ranks and 'Zacke' (Anders Zackrisson) proved to be a real good singer. Though the split with Ola was not easy. The response from changing vocalists was mainly positive, though there were a few that missed Ola too. He had a different vocal style, says Mårten Edlund, guitarist in Gotham City.

"The Unknown" is one of the more memorable Swedish metal albums and it also sold really well, both in Sweden and abroad.

- "The Unknown" did well. We started getting letters from all over the world, from Belgium, Germany and Holland. We were not prepared for that, says Mårten Edlund.

But at the same time it begins to show that Fingerprint Records didn't have the resources to market and support all the bands they signed. GOTHAM CITY and MINDLESS SINNER had to book their own gigs around their home area to the best of their ability. Not even AXEWITCH, whom in 1984 released the highly successful "Visions of the Past," got the opportunity to do any touring.

- After that, we only performed sporadically, often together with TORCH. At least the record company was honest when they told us that they had no money, says Magnus Jarl.

The "Visions of the Past" LP was released under license abroad on no less than six different companies. But where the marketing money went, nobody knows, except perhaps the board of directors at Fingerprint Records.

- We have not received a penny for the licenses and we never will. Afterwards it feels like we shouldn't have signed such a deal. But it was our first record deal so we did not know what demands we should have asked for, says Magnus Jarl.

Purely in terms of the public interest, 1984 was the best year in terms of record sales. TORCH took his raw style to perfection on the second LP "Electrikiss" and OVERDRIVE released a LP entitled "Swords and Axes" after the production failure with their 1983 album Metal Attack. During the year, MERCY also from Karlshamn released a very successful debut album. Today, they are perhaps best known as the band where future CANDLEMASS vocalist Eddy "Messiah" Marcolin began his career.

During 1983 HEAVY LOAD took a break from the recording process. Instead, they used their time to find a new bassist - and during the fall they introduced the newcomer to their audience, on a successful tour.

Boden natives Maninnya Blade recorded the single "The Barbarian" - Sweden's first speed metal recording and 220 Volt released the Power Games LP. In 1984 Bathory took extreme metal to Sweden with their self-titled debut album.

What about EUROPE then? Well, they released the LP "Wings of Tomorrow," which established them as the most popular hard rock band in Sweden. Still, it was nothing grand about it, but their next album would be named "The Final Countdown".

Noteable LP and EP's from 1984: ATC - Cut in Ice, Axewitch - Visions of the Past, Crystal Pride - Knocked Out, Glory Bells Band - Century Rendezvous, Hiroshima - Taste of Death, Gotham City - The Unknown, Nemesis - The Day of Retribution, Overdrive - Swords and Axes, Torch - Electrikiss, Parasite - Parasite, Lazy - Creature, Proud - Fire Breaks the Dawn, Syron Vanes - Bringer of Evil, Mercy - Mercy, Wizz - Crazy Games, Europe - Wings of Tomorrow, Madison - Diamond Mistress, 220 Volt - Power Games, Spellbound - Breaking the Spell, Bathory - Bathory.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1984: Maninnya Blade - The Barbarian / Ripper Attack, Regent - Lay Down Your Arms / Changes, Ambush - 4-Track EP, Arrow - The Only Way / Better Run, Lonely Hearts - Lonely Heart / One More Night

Gotham City - The Unknown (1984)

1985

It was not noticeable outwardly when the 1985 started, but by this time heavy metal began to live on borrowed time. Everything had rolled on in the same tracks for a number of years, and if something new would show up, it was a huge chance (or risk) that the trend could go in a different direction. But the end was not here yet.

HEAVY LOAD made a comeback with the single "Monsters of the Night" on the new record company WEA. The single sold like hot cakes and the band embarks on yet another successful Swedish tour during the summer. This time with a more generous stage production than before.

- It was a fantastic tour and we had such a good time. It was then when we stood in full bloom, 1983-85, says Ragne Wahlquist.

But the big break would not come for any of the Swedish heavy metal bands. HEAVY LOAD came closest, with over 60,000 records sold in Sweden and successful sales abroad. But despite the great interest in the band, in countries like Japan and Italy, HEAVY LOAD never gigged outside Sweden except for a gig in Oslo, Norway.

- Why one may ask. It was close two times that we would go to Japan, but we never did. At the time it was really difficult get a gig abroad. That changed a few years later, but then we had already folded, says Ragne Wahlquist.

In 1985 AXEWITCH struggled of something similar to an identity crisis, as three members were fired and then replaced.

- We thought that our drummer didn't have the right timing, so we simply fired him. The drummer and the second guitarist were the brothers, and he thought we acted dodgy, so he left too. Our bass player quit voluntarily.

With three new faces in the band they started preparing to record their third LP. But here it became clear that Fingerprint Records was in a financial crisis. Axewitch was at first not allowed to come into the studio, because the owners demanded a down payment from the company, money that didn't exist. But somehow it all worked out in the end and the album "Hooked on High Heels" was released.

Just as the title indicates, the album didn't sound like it used to do. Instead we were presented with a more commercially-oriented version of the classic AXEWITCH sound.

- It was me and Anders (Wallentoft, vocals) who wrote 90 percent of the songs and he is more into melodic stuff than what I am. He probably got the last word, admits Magnus Jarl.

- I listened to "Hooked on High Heels" a month ago, and I thought it sounded really bad. The guitar was not enhanced enough. But the songs didn't sound like that from the beginning, that happened in the studio.

A band that was hit even worse by the poor economy of Fingerprints were MINDLESS SINNER. Their first full-length album was recorded in the autumn of 1984, and the band spent all of 1985 in anticipation of the release, which never came.

- It was postponed all the time. The record company clearly had problems, I think they took on too many bands, says Christer Göransson.

The winds of change had begun to blow across Sweden. It became harder and harder for the heavy metal band with roots in the early 80's to get gigs.

- We played locally, but we noticed that there was less interest in our band compared to how it was in 81-82. It was devastating, the music was everything to me then, Magnus Jarl remembers.

220 Volt released the Mind over Muscle LP and E.F. band released their first album in three years entitled One Night Stand. Maninnya Blade also released their first LP but it didn't meet the expectations.

Noteable LP and EP's from 1985: E.F. Band - One Night Stand, Crystal Pride - Crystal Pride, Sadwings - Lonely Hero, Axewitch - Hooked on High Heels, Keen Hue - Ogre King, Lynx - Caught in a Trap, Saigon - One Must Die, Silver Mountain - Universe, Trouble - Warrior, Universe - Universe, Mercy - Witchburner, Blacksmith - Gipsy Queen, Bedlam - The Beauties and the Beast, Destiny - Beyond All Sense, Leviticus - The Strongest Power, 220 Volt - Mind over Muscle, Bathory - The Return.....

Noteable 7 inchers from 1985: Razorblade - Run For Your Life / Ready To Fight, Red Baron - Rock the Highway / Fool's Gold, Sacrifice - Street Fighter / Innocent Victim, Scamps - Love Today, Hate Tomorrow / Crystal Night, Scratch - Before the Rain / Metal Breaker, Shee - Amnesia / Don't Want Your Love, Slam - Tragedies, Steel Arrows - Loud Guitars / Lonely Nights, Adventure - Destiny, Depzon - Flying on the Sundown / Lost in the Forest, Hels - Birth / Death, Maniac - Beauty Queen / Take it Away, Tryckvåg - Stay the Night.

Axewitch - Hooked on High Heels (1985)

1986

Although there are many paths to go down, you can not start the story of 1986 with anything other than EUROPE. In the spring of '86 Europe released "The Final Countdown", as an omen that it is time to bury the old. The record becomes a worldwide success of astronomical dimensions and eventually the album sold remarkable seven million copies (a number that only ABBA, ROXETTE and ACE OF BASE of all Swedish artists could match).

But what is crucial about this was: that John Norums potent and wild guitar play was stripped down. The album was instead drenched in keyboards and catchy choruses. It was bands with a more easy-going attitude that would prevail. Groups like BON JOVI, RATT, CINDERELLA and POISON began to conquer the world of rock. It was Hair spray, glitz and glam that ruled the charts. The time of Studs, leather and heavy metal had passed.

In January of 1986, MINDLESS SINNER finally released their full-length debut album "Turn on the Power." But it is was a year too late for such an album. If that wasn't bad enough, Fingerprint Records went into immediate bankruptcy a month later - and thus a large chunk of the Swedish heavy metal bands stood without a record deal. And to sign heavy metal bands was not exactly a top priority for the record labels at the time.

Only two choices remained: keep engaging in a dying genre, or embrace the new.

Axewitch record a demo. English Neat Records showed interest, but when the band travelled to London the Representative from the label had been fired. So there was no contract for Axewitch to sign.

GOTHAM CITY also recorded a demo. Even though the two songs sounded like they were taken from Europe's first album, no one was interested in signing the band. The band had to replace two members, when the drummer and bassist was tired of living in the north of Sweden, they relocated to Stockholm.

Noteable LP and EP's from 1986: Syron Vanes - Revenge, Europe - The Final Countdown, Mindless Sinner, Spellbound - Rockin' Reckless, Madison - Best in Show, Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1986: Chiron - Don't Lose Your Faith / Eyes of Steel, Faith - Hymn of the Sinner, Jackwave - King of the Sea / I'll be There, N.J.B. - Soldier of Love / Run Away, Nagazaki - You can Be / Nobody, Wizzard - Ninya Warrior.

Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)

1987

When '86 became '87 bands started to fall like dominoes. GOTHAM CITY, E.F. BAND, AXEWITCH, TORCH and OVERDRIVE disbands and the interest for their type of music is minimal.

- I remember when EUROPE arrived, we were so jealous because they were so good at what they were doing. They were on another level compared to us. But I have a problem with that kind of music. It was too much pop, says Magnus Jarl, Axewitch.

Mindless Sinner went the other way, they shortend their name to MINDLESS and continued on as melodic hard rock band. Without getting the right support their career ended after just one album.

If any band could beat the odds and thrive in this new era, it was HEAVY LOAD. But during this time the band struggled. First Eddy Malm, the group's guitarist since 1977, decided to quit. Shortly thereafter bassist Andreas Fritz does the same.

After some time a new lineup started working on a new album, the album was almost finished. But in the fall of 1987 the band lost their rehearsal room - and later also the two new members. Although the Wahlquist brothers recorded material on and off throughout the 90s and the band never formally ceased to exist. It was around 1988 when HEAVY LOAD's productivity decreased and the band practically folded.

Mercy record an album, but negotiations with a German record label delays the release.

Noteable LP's and EP's from 1987: Candlemass - Nightfall, Leviticus - Setting Fire to the Earth, Red Baron - Rock 'n' Roll Power, Blizzard - Fading Away, Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1987: Layout - Wasted Love / Fight Back, Raving Mad - A Dazzling Display, Remo - Calling Out for You / Take Me Home, Warning - Armageddon / Swords and Sorcery, Wildness - Dreams / Dollburner, Acis - Lawbreaker / Wanted Man, Head Force - Love Heart / Take Cover,

1988

Doomsters Mercy released the album "King Doom" on their own. It will be their swan song and the band folded soon afterwards. Europe on the other hand released "Out of This World" and continued on their journey towards world domination. Candlemass released Ancient Dreams.

Noteable LP's and EP's from 1988: Candlemass - Ancient Dreams, Mercy - King Doom, Europe - Out of this World, Hexagon - Pieces of a Crime, Burn - Still Going... Wrong!, 220 Volt - Eye to Eye, Destiny - Atomic Winter, Remo - Send in the Clowns, Silver Mountain - Roses and Champagne, Agony - The First Defiance, Damien - Requiem for the Dead, Hexenhaus - A Tribute to Insanity, Bathory - Blood Fire Death, Krixhjälters - Hjälter Skelter.

Noteable 7 inchers from 1988: V/A - Is This Heavy or What?, Jackwave - Rising Star / Release Me

2004 - TODAY

Although HEAVY LOAD are recognized as a significant and influential band in todays metal circles. (Inspiring both IRON MAIDEN and MANOWAR), they are far from a household name. Their albums aren't even available on CD for the new generation of metal fans. We asked Ragne Wahlquist what he could have done differently.

- If I were a wiser guy then I would have taken a big long conversation with Eddy Malm when he wanted to quit the band. I think I would have succeeded. If he would have stayed I believe that the bassist would have done the same and the lineup could have remained intact, and we could have maintained the much needed stability within the band.

Why none of metal bands in Sweden during the eighties broke through and into the mainstream is not easy to answer. There were quality and talent in many places but unexperienced record labels, the lack of money and a general interest from the media played a part. Not having the right contacts and the lack of a general know-how are a few possible explanations.

- In the early 80s the record labels didn't know what to do. They had no clue what heavy metal was. But I'm not bitter. It's not everyone who gets the chance to do what we did, says AXEWITCHs Magnus Jarl.

- I do not think there was any record company in Sweden at the time that were prepared to take care of the bands. There seems to be a significant difference to how they pick up the band today. It seems to be easier to get somewhere today, says Mårten Edlund of Gotham City.

It's possible that it is easier to get somewhere through the width of all the publishing channels of today, especially if you look at the success Sweden has had as an exporting nation of metal music. But unfortunately The First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal is a memory about to fade. A lost cultural heritage that will never come back.

Originally written by: Per-Ola 'Mordred' Nilsson.

Translation and additional info by: Jim 'Ruthless' Ruuth