HIGHWAY QUEEN
“Extendead Play”
E.P. Review by Iron Mathew

8/10

Highway Queen are a hard rock band from Finland formed in 2019 releasing their debut album ‘Bitter Soul’ in 2022, and debut E.P. ‘Extendead Play’ in 2025…

…featuring four songs across a hard rocking eighteen minutes! The bands music is best described as modern melodic hard rock with just a hint of heavy metal, Highway Queen an emerging force in the rock scene, the four piece outfit from Lahti consisting of vocalist Virpi Kaariainen, guitarist Teemu Kaariainen, bass player Juha Skog, and drummer Henri Backman.

Opening with ‘Lies’, the E.P. bounces into sight with a lively and energetic barrage of hard rock that immediately grabs your attention, Highway Queen rocking very hard right from the off! ‘Lies’ is catchy with an infectious sing a long-able chorus – ‘I Will Take You To Hell’ increasing the pace to plant one foot firmly on the heavy metal monitor as the band take a step over the border wall into metal territory! The iconic “metal gallop” rising high outta ‘I Will Take You To Hell’ is gonna awaken every metalhead around the world to sit up and take notice of a highly head bang-able tune from the Finnish rockers!

And as quick as the pace increased, it decreases just as quick for the foot stomping Southern rocker ‘Come To Me’, a touch of the blues coming forth too – the band widening their musical horizons to new widths. The fourth and final song on offer ‘I’m Calling You’ sees, or rather hears Highway Queen enter ballad territory, the band inviting every listener everywhere to raise lighters high in the air and sway from side to side. At least to begin with, for ‘I’m Calling You’ gets a little heavier and starts leaving balladry in favour of a hymn-like stroll.

Overall, a lively four song swagger that showcases Highway Queen’s ever expanding rock landscape.

TRACKLIST

Lies
I Will Take You To Hell
Come To Me
I’m Calling You

https://www.highwayqueenband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/highwayqueenband

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