| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Thobias Wiklund |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: Sweden |
| Year Released: 2026 | Artist Website: Thobias Wiklund |
| Tracks: 9 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: |
Straddling the line between melodic hard rock and neo-classical heavy metal, the September 11, 2026 released third solo album from Thobias Wiklund, The Gates Of Heaven, offers refined production and technically proficient songwriting ranging from high-energy anthems to soulful ballads. The Swedish guitarist got his start in 2015 with the release to his debut solo album To Remember The Forgotten, which also emphasized melodic hard rock in breaking down evenly between Peo Pettersson (Leviticus) fronted vocal pieces and instrumental cuts. Second solo offering from 2020 Playing Loud trended similar musical territory with two instrumentals and seven vocals numbers in which artists collaborated with Pettersson in addition to iconic vocalist Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen).
On The Gates Of Heaven, Wiklund maintains his partnership with Edman, fronting three of the albums nine tracks, while also working with legendary vocalist Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Alex Rudi Pell), whom fronts five others. Artist maintains his instrumental penchant in that the ninth The Gates Of Heaven track is also instrumental. Helping set the album apart is manner in which in addition to all guitars, Wiklund takes a multi instrumentalist role in also contributing bass, drums, piano, keyboards, violin and cello. Further lending a unique aspect is how artist commonly extends albums material into the five to six minute range in imbuing a light progressive facet, albeit not to quite the same extent as the 2017 debut of his progressive rock project Nozanopra, Peace In Our Hearts.
Album opens to what in my opinion is one of its choice tracks, “The Light Streaks From The Sky”. Song takes a neo-classical melodic metal approach akin to early Narnia, dazzling with its lustrous harmonies and engaging hooks of a refuse to go away variety. Artist’s lucid lead guitar work would turn the head of Carl Grimmark. Lyric snippet:
Never give up
Find the way to your heart
Follow the sign
The light streaks from the sky
Hear message from above
There is no end
Just follow the sign
You will find the way
“Waiting On A New Day To Dawn” embodies The Gates Of Heaven melodic hard rock side. It traverses at a measured mid-tempo clip, boosting heaviness as crisp rhythm guitar and substantial low-end take hold but stays true to the classical themes revealed in a symphonic keyboard touch. An extended instrumental run home to lush guitar harmonies and precise leads helps take song out to six creative minutes.
Albums title track represents second consecutive six minute cut. Opening to several seconds of orchestration, “The Gates Of Heaven” carries over the eighties themes - a regal and distinguished bearing touching upon the anthem like - while also incorporating neo-classical aspects, the practiced guitar work continues to shine through. Three songs in and it cannot be denied how Gileli proves an asset with his raspy and gravel like mid-ranged vocal abilities. Lyric snippet:
You gave me life
You gave me strength
You are the only one I could trust
Your soul will always remain
You found the way
To the gates of heaven
The angels are flying with you in the sky
First of three songs fronted by contrasting classic tenor Edman ensues in “Only You And Me”. What we have is five and half minutes of riff driven melodic hard rock - song upholds some of the catchiest guitar harmonies you will hear - innate to polished commercial variances indicating a sweeping semi-ballad form. Albums deeply layered production shines from manner in which brimming bass and cleanly mixed leads separate in the mix.
“I Will Always Remember You” takes a full on ballad heading. Lightened with acoustic tincturing, it seamlessly flows to satiny melodies and sleek harmonies in revealing a commercial nuance, albeit not to fault in that decided rhythm guitar periodically rises to the forefront. The emotional allure brings to mind classic Rivera Bomma track “Oh Girl” (off I Am God from 2006).
My favorite cut ensues in “Holy Water And The Holy Cross”. What we have is a return to a heavier heading as Gioeli lowers his vocal register with a swarthy Dio-ish form as classic metal style guitars and glistening keyboards build upon the dark semblance. The violin throughout lends an extra dimension of creativity. Lyric snippet:
Show me the way to the holy place
I’m begging you for a sign
Show me the way to the holy source
Holy water & the holy cross
Drinking from the holy water
Feeling rest in my soul
Standing by the cross
Album moves on to lone instrumental “Empty Room”. It proves harmony driven as opposed to eighties shred based, starting to a few seconds of orchestration and acoustic guitar ahead of effortlessly rippling forward to catchy guitar melodies - played in expertly emotional fashion - interspersed with periodic lighter piano fused passages. I am reminded of Regime instrumental “Moodswing” (off Straight Through Your Heart from 2005).
Artist exhibits his creative versatility with blues rocker “The Harmonica Man”. I identify with it as albums most outside the box, staying true to its namesake with ample doses of harmonica alongside a shuffling guitar and bass presence and all the melody bluesy grit you could ask. Edman lends aspects of grit to his register to extent Jake Livgren (Proto Kaw, Kerry Livgren) comes to mind.
Things return to upbeat territory with closer “Gather Your Strength”, a burnished five minutes of expeditious melodic heavy metal intrinsic to sophisticated hooks and outbursts of double kick drum aggression. Distinct AOR tinged arena rock tincturing rises to the forefront in the process. Yet, a slight European resonance brings to mind Theocracy and Narnia. Lyric snippet:
We have to realize
That we have to find a way out
Cause the tomorrow it could be too late
Gather your strength
And follow your heart
To make peace in everyone’s soul
Fighting for freedom
Without mercy from the enemies
The Gates Of Heaven equates to a fantastic amalgamating of melodic metal and hard rock meets symphonic to neo-classical propensities. Songwriting extending into instrumental and blues-rock territory lends to the album a well-rounded feel and builds upon its diversification in the process. Credit the artist for his multi-instrumental flair not to mention bringing in two equally good vocalists Edman and Gioeli. Helping tie everything together is the exceptional production. Lone constructive comment is that perhaps The Gates Of Heaven could include a few more upbeat moments, but otherwise songwriting is consistent with each track on an equally high level. In the end, what we have is a legitimate top five (if not higher) album of the year candidate.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Light Streaks From The Sky” (4:21), “Waiting On A New Day To Dawn” (5:49), “The Gates Of Heaven” (6:08), “Only You And Me” (5:28), “I Will Always Remember You” (6:01), “Holy Water And The Holy Cross” (5:31), “Empty Room” (3:52), “The Harmonica Man” (3:56), “Gather Your Strength” (4:55)
Musicians
Thobias Wiklund - Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Violin & Cello
Goran Edman - Lead Vocals
Johnny Gioeli - Led Vocals
