Heavy Load (band)

{{Short description|Swedish heavy metal band}}

{{About|the Swedish heavy metal band|the British punk band|Heavy Load (punk band)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Heavy Load

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| genre = Heavy metal,

Power Metal

| years_active = 1976–1983, 1985, 1987, 2017–present

| origin = Stockholm, Sweden

| current_members = Styrbjörn Wahlquist
Torbjörn Ragnesjö
Eddy Malm

| past_members = Michael Backler
Dan Molén
Eero Koivisto
Leif Liljegren
Andreas Fritz
Paul Gray
Patrick Karlsson
Ragne Wahlquist

}}

Heavy Load is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm. The band is often hailed as the first Swedish heavy metal band,{{Allmusic | class = artist | id = p187739 | tab = biography | label = Biography of Heavy Load | last = Rivadavia | first = Eduardo | access-date = 2008-12-26 }} 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 renowned architect Eero Koivisto. Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy played on one of the band's released songs. 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/swedish-cult-heavy-metal-band-heavy-load-is-back/|title=Swedish Cult Heavy Metal Band HEAVY LOAD Is Back|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=October 26, 2017|date=October 26, 2017}} including an appearance at that year's Sweden Rock Festival in June.{{Cite news|url=http://www.blt.se/kultur-o-noje/heavy-load-aterforenas-pa-sweden-rock/|title=Heavy Load återförenas på Sweden Rock - Blekinge Läns Tidning|date=2017-10-25|work=Blekinge Läns Tidning|access-date=2018-06-17|language=sv-SE}}

On September 6, 2023, the band announced their first album in 40 years, Riders of the Ancient Storm, which was released on October 6.{{cite web|url=https://grande-rock.com/news/heavy-load-to-release-new-studio-album-riders-of-the-ancient-storm-on-october-6th-2023/|title=Heavy Load to release new studio album "Riders of the Ancient Storm" on October 6th 2023|website=Grande Rock|access-date=September 14, 2023|date=September 6, 2023}}

On January 7, 2025 it was announced that founder Ragne Wahlquist had passed away 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.{{Cite web |last=Nyheter |first=S. V. T. |date=2025-01-07 |title=Ragne Wahlquist död – startade Sveriges första heavy metal-band Heavy Load |url=https://www.svt.se/kultur/ragne-wahlquist-dod-startade-sveriges-forsta-heavy-metal-band-heavy-load?fbclid=IwY2xjawHqE8NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaHwAHKgZMskW1LZ1kPJgnOjfKSljgsMVvX5JyUR3tyWnxIL8ytIziBZUA_aem_6N8AZpztwqNw4HZFrq13pg |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=SVT Nyheter |language=sv}}