Release Date: January 9, 2026

Label: Steamhammer

Växjö, Sweden likes to call itself “The Greenest City in Europe”. It is a place powered by sustainability, clean living, and forward‑thinking environmental design. But spend five minutes talking to anyone who’s lived within earshot of Bullet’s rehearsal space, and you’ll hear a different theory. The city doesn’t totally run on biomass or eco‑innovation. No, Växjö stays lit because Bullet has been pumping molten metal into the atmosphere since 2001, generating enough raw voltage to keep the streetlights humming. If there’s a carbon footprint to be found, it’s in the shape of a boot, stomping down on the accelerator of a V8 engine that refuses to idle. Or perhaps a leather clad hand twisting the throttle on a fire breathing motorcycle ready to race down the road.

For nearly twenty‑five years, Bullet has carved out their own lane in the Scandinavian rock landscape. It is a lane paved not with polish or pretense, but with sweat, grit, and a stubborn devotion to the DIY ethos. While trends have come and gone, Dag “Hell” Hofer’s unmistakable howl, Gustav Hjortsjö’s thunderous backbone, and Hampus Klang’s riff‑slinging bravado have remained the band’s beating heart. Currently, along with Alexander Lybro (guitars), and Gustav Hector (bass), the fire in the soul of Bullet has never been stronger. They’ve never chased the modern metal arms race. They’ve never softened their edges for radio. Bullet is the kind of band that shows up with duct‑taped gear, denim vests, and a mission: plug in, turn up, and let the music do the talking.

That ethos hits a new peak in 2026 with Kickstarter, a record that feels less like a comeback and more like a reaffirmation. It’s a reminder that straight‑up rock and metal don’t need reinvention to feel alive. Kickstarter is gritty, stripped down, and unapologetically loud. It’s the sound of a band doubling down on everything that made them dangerous in the first place. No frills. No gloss. Just riffs sharpened to a point and songs built to be shouted back at the stage by a crowd that knows every word.

And that’s where Bullet truly thrives: in the crush of a packed venue, where the air is thick, the beer is cheap, and the fans are shoulder‑to‑shoulder, fists raised like a forest of steel. This is music meant to be felt as much as heard! It’s the kind that rattles your ribs, shakes loose your inhibitions, and sends you home hoarse and grinning. Kickstarter isn’t just an album; it’s a spark plug. A jolt. A reminder that rock and metal, when delivered with conviction and zero compromise, can still feel like a live wire in your hands.

Review

“Kickstarter” detonates and blows the album wide open. The title track comes roaring out of the gate with Dag “Hell” Hofer’s signature growl riding a strident, steel‑edged guitar line, a bass that thumps like a revved heartbeat, and drums crashing with the force of a runaway rig. Midway through, the song drops into a gritty breakdown where the bass struts forward and the rumble of a motorcycle engine snarls to life beneath it, blurring the line between studio craft and pure live‑wire attitude. From there, Bullet slams the accelerator, culminating in Hofer’s unforgettable howl of “Kickstarter,” a rallying cry that feels like sparks hitting gasoline before the track cuts out and leaves you fully strapped in for the ride ahead.

“Caught in the Action” picks up the exact second “Kickstarter” leaves off, opening with a coiled guitar riff that hints at the chaos about to erupt. Then, like an electrical storm ripping across a midnight sky, the track explodes and shakes the room with its sheer force. Hofer’s vocals come in urgent and unrelenting, soaring over a rhythm section that feels ready to knock bricks out of the walls. Midway through, the band drops into a solo that’s crisp, clean, and perfectly aligned with Bullet’s no‑frills, boots‑on‑the-ground ethos — no flash, no filler, just precision and attitude. By the time the final notes hit, “Caught in the Action” feels like the soundtrack to every barroom brawl that ever broke out, a raw surge of adrenaline wrapped in denim and distortion.

“Open Fire” starts with a teasing riff that barely has time to smirk before the whole song leaps onto the rails and tears forward well past the speed limit. Hofer’s vocals once again become a central weapon, cutting through the mix with urgency and force, but it’s the riff — that skull‑carving, road‑chewing riff — that keeps the adrenaline spiking. When the chorus hits and the command to “open fire” rings out, it feels like a volley of flaming arrows unleashed across a battlefield, pure cinematic fury set to metal. The dual‑guitar solo that follows is a back‑and‑forth masterclass, a reminder of everything timeless and exhilarating about rock and roll when two players lock in and push each other toward the edge.

“Keep Rolling” Easing off the throttle with a slightly blues‑tinged tone, “Keep Rolling” falls into a more melodic groove without losing an ounce of muscle. The opening guitar hook pulls you in with the promise that something is brewing just beneath the surface, and soon enough the song reveals itself as a tribute to the band’s road‑worn spirit and to the unstoppable fan movement that follows them from town to town. When the solo hits, it breaks out crisp, thick, and confident, the kind of no‑nonsense guitar work that feels built for open highways and late‑night drives. “Keep Rolling” lands as both a powerful statement and an anthemic rallying cry, a reminder that momentum is a force all its own.

Cranking up the heat, “Hit the Road” kicks the tempo into overdrive, doubling down on Bullet’s eternal‑motion ethos: a band forever chasing the next highway, the next stage, the next night of sweat‑drenched chaos. The riff tears forward like a hot rod peeling out of a parking lot, and the solo shimmers with chrome‑bright precision, purring beneath the mix like an engine tuned for trouble. When the breakdown hits, Hofer’s vocals drop to a growl, muttering like a driver talking to his machine before unleashing an otherworldly howl that sends the track roaring back to life. By the time he barks out that primal “GO GO GO,” the song feels like a command to put the pedal down and not look back.

Tapping into the classic arc of heroes and villains, “Avenger” dives straight into the moments that shape a person’s path… the crossroads, the misdeeds, and the inevitable reckoning that follows. It’s a high‑energy blast of anger and purpose, a track that isn’t afraid to stare into the dark and ask whether vengeance is corruption or clarity, punishment or justice. Bullet leans hard into that ambiguity, driving the song with a fierce momentum that feels both dangerous and cathartic. The guitar solo is a standout moment, a wicked, sky‑splitting run that growls at the earth before soaring toward the heavens. “Avenger” lands as one of the album’s defining cuts, a storm of grit, fury, and narrative weight.

“Chained by Metal” is a rollicking, full‑throttle assault that ramps up fast and never eases off the pressure, a track built on the pulse of relentless momentum. Bullet spins a tale of endless battle here. Like a legion of die‑hard comrades locked into a righteous cause, marching forward with grit, loyalty, and zero hesitation. The song is fast, loud, and vivid, conjuring imagery of steel‑clad warriors charging into the fray with fists raised and hearts on fire. By the time it hits its final notes, “Chained by Metal” has done its job: you’re ready to grab your gear, rally the troops, and charge headlong into whatever fight awaits.

Opening with a molten groove, “Spitfire” has guitars that screech and whine like metal under pressure before the vocals sweep in. They are howling, humming, and carrying the weight of a battle raging in the sky. The song unfolds as a tale of heroic defiance in the face of certain death, each instrument adding to the sense of danger and triumph. It’s a powerful, full‑bodied track that gets the blood moving and the mind racing, proof that Bullet can command more than just speed and volume. While their fast‑and‑loud assault is always a thrill, this song reveals a deeper layer of range and nuance, showing a band fully in control of its firepower

Hitting right on cue, “Strike At Night” snaps the album back into the pure, no‑nonsense rock and roll territory where Bullet thrives. This track spews metal sparks with effortless confidence, driven by a bass line that bounces and punches its way to the front of the mix while the drums crash and boom like they’re trying to shake the ceiling loose. It’s fast, loud, and unapologetically direct, and is the kind of song that grabs your pulse and dares it to keep up. If this one doesn’t get your heart rate climbing, it might be time to schedule a checkup.

“Night Falls Down” closes the album on a mellow, atmospheric note, leaning more heavily than any other track into the AC/DC‑infused DNA that has always flickered beneath Bullet’s sound — not as imitation, but as a knowing nod to a timeless lineage. It feels like a spiritual companion to “Hells Bells,” carrying that same slow‑burn tension and reverence for rock’s darker, more dramatic edges. The band treats the moment with real care, crafting an ode to a classic feel that so few modern acts can pull off without slipping into parody. Bullet nails it, delivering a closer that’s rich with mood, restraint, and respect for the giants whose shadows they stride beside. It’s a strong, resonant finish to the record.

Conclusion

Kickstarter is the sound of a band fully locked into its identity and firing on all cylinders. Bullet has been at this for more than two decades, and this record proves they are not slowing down or softening their edges. Every track feels intentional and alive, built with the kind of confidence that only comes from years of sweat, grit, and relentless commitment to the craft.

What makes this album stand out is its purity. There is no pretense, no attempt to chase trends or reinvent the wheel. Bullet delivers rock and metal in its most unfiltered form, trusting the power of sharp riffs, pounding rhythms, and vocals that hit with real force. They know exactly who they are and what they do best, and they lean into it with pride. The result is a record that feels both timeless and immediate, a reminder of why this genre still matters.

At this point in their career, Bullet is operating at a level that many bands never reach. They have the skill, the chemistry, and the instinct to create music that hits hard and stays with you long after the final note fades. Kickstarter is a testament to that mastery. It is a powerful, impressive album from a band that continues to prove why they deserve a place among the greats of modern rock and metal.

TheNWOTHM Score: 10/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://bulletofficial.bandcamp.com/album/kickstarter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bulletband/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bullet_official/?hl=en