The moment I finished my first listen of “Visions of Tomorrow” by Swedish rockers THE RIVEN.
Heart pounding.
A deep, satisfied grin on my face.
That pure, powerful, intoxicating joy of true musical pleasure.
The kind of pleasure that, I’ll admit, I don’t get to experience as often as I’d like—just like, I imagine, many other music fans out there. With countless albums flooding us every day in this crazy era of excess and speed, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Don’t get me wrong! It’s not a bad thing that so much music is being released. What’s bad is when we don’t have the time to truly absorb it, to let it sink in and reveal its essence in every dimension.
When we don’t get to really feel it.
When we can’t give it the attention it deserves—especially the albums that truly stand out.
And so, back to that moment right after the final notes of the song “Follow You” faded out.
MAGICAL!
The kind of moment that justifies why we fell in love with rock and heavy music in the first place. Why we’re still here, decades later, embracing it, supporting it, and celebrating all these fresh bands—like THE RIVEN—that emerge, pouring their heart and soul into this music, delivering the kind of raw, honest energy that still moves us. Why we spend our hard-earned cash without a second thought to keep this music alive. Why, by giving it our love, we receive all its transcendent energy in return.
That moment made me realize something: “Visions of Tomorrow” is one of those albums that remind me why I listen to music at all.
And so, naturally, instinctively, like a reflex—I hit play again.
But enough about me!
Let’s give the spotlight to the young blood—yes, I’ve reached the point where I can say that!—and to the incredible, unstoppable, and downright electrifying THE RIVEN and their fantastic third album!
Since their formation in 2016, these powerhouse rockers—hailing from Stockholm with roots in London—have been crafting a sound that blends a vast spectrum of influences. Their music is a melting pot of hard rock, vintage progressive sounds, early heavy metal, and pure, unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll. This fearless approach leaves no stone unturned, weaving in lyrical themes that span from the rawness of everyday life to vivid fantasy landscapes, often merging the two. The result? A sound deeply rooted in the spirit of the late ’70s and early ’80s, yet pulsing with a fresh, modern vibrancy.
With their second album, “Peace and Conflict” (2022), THE RIVEN took a bold step forward from their hard-hitting 2019 self-titled debut. Embracing an electrifying yet grounded take on the NWOBHM ethos, that record marked a turning point. Now, with their highly anticipated third full-length, “Visions of Tomorrow”, the band stands on the brink of yet another defining moment. True to its name, this album radiates confidence, driven by an undeniable sense of purpose and an arsenal of strikingly infectious tracks. Stripped-down yet powerful, the production captures a raw energy and, in the end, what THE RIVEN deliver here is an intoxicating mix of colossal hooks and pure heart, proof that relentless touring has honed them into a razor-sharp force.
So, in the studio, the band managed to channel their sharpened songwriting instincts into compact, yet explosively dynamic anthems. Yes, the old gang of Joakim Sandegård and Arnau Díaz, a sturdy and expressive guitar duo, the delightful and thunderous bassist Max Ternebring and the real force-of-nature Totta Ekebergh on incredible vocals, returns with new drummer Elias Jonsson, who brings an effortless yet urgent pulse to the group.
From the very first track, “Far Away From Home”, with its simple yet punchy rhythmic backbone, those sweet-but-rebellious guitars, and Ekebergh’s powerhouse vocals, you get a solid taste of what this album is all about. Then comes “Killing Machine”, kicking things up a notch with a more intense, hard-hitting first half, a stunningly melodic mid-section, and an explosive finale—proof early on that this album isn’t just one-dimensional.
Less rooted in the late ‘60s vibe of HEAVY FEATHER and more aligned with the sound of HONEYMOON DISEASE and DEAD LORD, THE RIVEN is yet another gem in Sweden’s thriving hard rock scene. They may not bring the sheer heaviness of their U.S. counterparts like SANHEDRIN, TOWER, or BLOOD STAR, but they definitely ride that retro wave alongside TANITH. Yes, we’ve got PLENTY of AMAZING female-fronted bands these days— and damn, we’re lucky for that!
Tracks like “Set My Heart on Fire” and “Travelling Great Distance” manage to pack all the raw energy and attitude of classic hard rock into their tight three-minute runtimes, echoing the spirit of the genre’s ‘70s greats: THIN LIZZY, BAD COMPANY, UFO, early-WHITESNAKE, later-era FREE, TED NUGENT, MONTROSE, and so many others.
And then there’s “Crystals”, sitting right in the middle of the tracklist. Good Lord, WHAT A SONG! Melody, passion, groove, power—and Totta Ekebergh delivering an absolute masterclass in vocal performance!
And she’s unstoppable, rolling straight into “On My Mind Tonight”, where a punchy, steady rhythm sets the tone, pulling you into a swaying, almost danceable groove. Then, just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a soft, dreamy bridge glides in before giving way to sharp, short-but-deadly guitar solos that hit right where they should.
Then it’s full throttle again with “Seen It All”, an airplay-ready anthem that builds the perfect momentum for what comes next—the absolute storm that is “Visions of Tomorrow”, the album’s title track and one of the best hard rock songs I’ve heard in a very, very long time. Just… breathtaking!
Switching gears, “En Dag Som Aldrig Förr” takes a different route—darker, slower, almost occult-like in its atmosphere—before “We Love You” shamelessly throws itself into upbeat, commercial rock territory and absolutely RIPS!
And then, the grand finale: “Follow You”. A true closing statement, wrapping it all up with speed, a quieter interlude, a rhythmic core that builds with reckless abandon, guitars intertwining in a double-solo embrace, vocals from another dimension, and then…
…silence.
This, my friends, is THAT moment I talked about at the start.
It’s almost like what comes after an orgasm—only here, there’s no doubt you can go for another round.
Because with an album like this, all you have to do is flip the record, drop the needle, or just hit play again—and the magic starts all over.
Interesting to mention, is the fact that “Visions of Tomorrow” took shape in Stockholm during late 2023, but its recording process led THE RIVEN to an extraordinary opportunity. Selected for an international studio residency by Sweden’s national arts association, they spent time at the renowned Fascination Street Studios in Örebro. With Robert Pehrsson (known for his work with THE HELLACOPTERS, TRIBULATION, and DEAD LORD) handling mixing and co-production, the album exudes a sharp, immediate presence.
Lyrically, it reflects a band discontent with the state of the world—questioning those in power and pondering the uncertain future ahead. Musically, as described previously, it showcases a fearless group unafraid to push their limits, embarking on sonic journeys that highlight their instrumental prowess.
As THE RIVEN themselves put it, this third album of theirs is “a fine example of rock ‘n’ roll being played at its best – it’s honest, it’s urgent, it’s calling you, and it will make you shake your fist and bang your head – all while thinking about where we are and where we are going”.
“Visions of Tomorrow” will be released on April 25th by Dying Victims Productions, on both LP and CD.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can pre-order both the CD and LP here.
