SVT reports, Ragne Wahlquist, guitarist and vocalist for Heavy Load, widely regarded as Sweden’s first heavy metal and Viking metal band, has passed away at 69. Ragne and his brother Styrbjörn founded Heavy Load in Stockholm during the mid-1970s. Their 1978 debut, Full Speed at High Level, kickstarted Sweden’s metal scene and inspired future Viking metal acts. The band’s three albums released between 1978 and 1983 established them as pioneers in the genre: Full Speed at High Level (1978), Death or Glory (1982), and Stronger than Evil (1983).
Beyond Heavy Load, the Wahlquist brothers were behind Thunderload Studios, where albums by Candlemass, Hammerfall, and Yngwie Malmsteen were recorded. Heavy Load reunited for Sweden Rock Festival in 2018 and released Riders of the Ancient Storm in 2023. At the time of Ragne’s passing, the brothers were working on Heavy Load’s fifth album, which is planned to be completed in his honor. Our thoughts go out to Wahlquist’s family and friends during this difficult time.
