Wahlquist, who for nearly 50 years led the heavy metal institution Heavy Load, has been called Sweden’s first true rock star, and Heavy Load is widely considered the country’s first metal band.

Legendary Heavy Metal Band Has Exciting News (And It Involves a 90s Rock Icon) Jason Brow. Wed, May 21, 2025 at 8:35 PM UTC. 2 min read. Few bands are as synonymous with heavy metal as Judas Priest.