Heavy Load vocalist and guitarist Ragne Wahlquist passed away this Tuesday, the 7th, at the age of 69. The cause of death was not disclosed.
According to the Swedish broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) , the musician was working on recordings for his fifth album with Styrbjörn Wahlquist , his younger brother and drummer.
However, information released in Sweden states that Heavy Load intends to finish the successor project to Riders of the Ancient Storm (2023) and continue with the band to keep Ragne's memory alive.
Ragne Wahlquist would have turned 70 on January 23rd.
Pioneer of Swedish heavy metal
Heavy Load was founded by the Wahlquist brothers: Ragne and Styrbjörn in the 1970s. And since then, it has been considered the pioneer of Swedish heavy metal and worldwide viking metal.
In addition to the desire to promote Nordic roots, the debut album, Full Speed at High Level (1978), managed to boost the scene in Sweden.
Next came the releases: Metal Conquest (1981), Death Or Glory (1982) and Stronger Than Evil (1983).
In 2023, the Wahlquist brothers announced a reunion to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary with the release of their then-new album: Riders of the Ancient Storm .
The new album, which is currently being recorded, does not yet have a release date.
READ ALSO: Unleashed: Fredrik Lindgren, the band's original guitarist, dies at age 53.
