Bullet

Epic choruses, searing solos, tendencies towards progressive creativity without succumbing to limpness and a wailin' singer ― many bands endeavour to ape the greater aspects of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Many fail horribly, if not because their songs suck, simply because of a lack of originality. In the case of Swedish rockers Bullet, there's no deficiency of testosterone or inventiveness. Taking the best parts of Judas Priest, Accept and Maiden, and infusing them with driving grooves pulled straight from early Hellacopters albums, Bullet roll their influences into a big, old M-80 and light the sucker off with brazen contempt for ears. From initially simplistic blues-based verses delivered via a Brian Johnson-esque frontman, to leads that could incite an air guitar competition resurgence, anthemic choruses and grit laid across virtually everything, Highway Pirates is what Airbourne have been striving for yet can't fully grasp, making Bullet the dirtier, more abrasive and subtlety inventive stepchild of AC/DC. What an honour.