On their 2022 long player ‘Bitter Soul’, Finnish metallers Highway Queen very much flew the flag for a traditional approach. The album’s eight songs drew influence from a mid 80s Iron Maiden, with galloping riffs and twin lead guitars, from Michael Schenker via a very European sense of bombast, and a couple of Scandinavian hard rock rock acts from more recent times, which certainly helped their shamelessly old fashioned sound retain a pleasing sense of melody. Against their often familiar sounding riffs, vocalist Virpi Kääriäinen shared a strong vocal, and despite sometimes sounding a little buried within the band’s studio arrangements – at least on the faster numbers, the Whitesnake-esque title cut allowed for more clarity – it was obvious she had the kind of talent that would carry itself well in the live setting.
2025’s ‘Extendead Play’ offers the listener much more of the same, but there’s still entertainment value to be had from their tried and tested style. Highway Queen are clearly a band who really feel the power in trad metal and some very 80s influences, and that comes across very clearly on the lead track ‘Lies’. Instead of a melodic metal gallop, the rhythm section dictates a massive swagger that allows for a wealth of chopping guitars and a little more space for Virpi to share a bigger vocal.
It wouldn’t be a great leap to imagine something similar propping up an early 80s album from Y & T, or one of Phantom 5’s releases, but even with a very familiar musical approach, this number represents some very strong metal. The guitars are occasionally bolstered by tribal drums; Juha Skog’s bass brings a fair amount of weight; the featured lead guitar breaks are well balanced between a busy style and a strong melodic core, and the main hook actually benefits from an obvious simplicity. Overall, whether you’re coming to this release as someone unfamiliar with the band with this release or already a fan, ‘Lies’ should present itself as an obviously confident way to kick off this relatively short listen.
A little slower and heavier, ‘Come To Me’ introduces a dirtier tone to Teemu Kääriäinen’s guitar work, leaning towards an influence from melodic doom, but its heavier stance is well balanced via a vocal that adds a semi-bluesy lilt to a broad melody. Virpi sounds confident delivering longer notes, and even though you’ll find sharper performances from her elsewhere on this EP, she sounds as if she really believes in the material itself. This track becomes a little more interesting once the heaviness subsides just a little: the middle eight introduces something a little more goth-based, and its great to hear Teemu adding some clean, shimmering notes, before stepping forth with a brooding solo that brings even more of a bluesy flair. It’s a little more of a slow burner, but it’s clear that in time, this number will really shine. Opting for something more accessible, ‘I’m Calling You’ blends melodic metal tropes with the bombast of European symphonic metal bands which, naturally, finds Virpa reaching for some much bigger vocal sounds. Everything is played well, even if the results are a little predictable. You’ll find some fine guitar work throughout these four minutes but, just as importantly, the very natural sounding mix pushes Henri Backman’s drums to the fore. Although his playing is never complex, this number shows off a musician who’s approach brings a fair amount of rhythmic weight behind a soaring vocal, whilst Virpa sounds as if she’s welcoming the chance to share a melody that, at times, has a light and almost operatic flair.
For those hoping to hear something with a little more thunder, the speed oriented ‘I Will Take You To Hell’ shares riffs that aren’t far removed from a 1984 Judas Priest vintage, with Timmo really hammering a rhythmic style. This, again, gives Backman a great platform, and he brings a huge oomph to the number with a powerful style which befits Highway Queen’s 80s obsessions. With an equal amount of power, the lead vocal shares a melodic metal style that has enough of an edge to feel aggressive, yet isn’t afraid to pull back for a more tuneful middle eight where an atmospheric moment or two shows off a band with genuine range. It isn’t long before the trad metal sounds rise again, of course, and between another soaring guitar solo and a final outing for a potentially catchy hook, the band sound like an assured throwback to a time of studs and leather, and in the best possible way.
This EP finds the Finnish band very much sticking to what they know, and raising two fingers to musical fashion. These tracks sit well together, despite each one taking a slightly different musical path. It’s fair to say that if you enjoyed the album, then ‘Extendead Play’ will expand your listening pleasure. It’s worth picking up purely for ‘Lies’, but in old school terms, there are no weak links here. There’s a whole world of different sounds out there, but Highway Queen prove that, when the mood is right, a slab of classic sounding metal can go a long way.
January 2025