BULLET

track-list:
Kickstarter
Caught In The Action
Open Fire
Keep Rolling
Hit The Road
Avenger
Chained By Metal
Spitfire
Full Throttle
Strike At Night
Night Falls Down

“Bullet with Freddie is a different Bullet than Bullet with Alex Lyrbo or Erik Almström.”

“Resistance is always part of trying to scrape by as a touring band – so that doesn’t feel very different now compared to 25 years ago.”

“It’s the hunger that keeps us going…after 25 years, a band is more woven into existence than a ‘phase in life’.”

“Being out there and meeting the people you feel connected to is probably the biggest driving force for me right now.”

“Nothing with Bullet is done casually or ‘ironically’ – we always follow our instincts.”

“’Kickstarter’ isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it’s the result of a band that knows exactly why it’s still here.”

“Loyalty isn’t something you compete over; it’s built over time through honesty in what you do.”

Nearly 25 years into their career, Swedish heavy metal stalwarts Bullet are not slowing down – they are revving the engine once more.
With ‘Kickstarter‘, their first studio album since ‘Dust To Gold‘ (2018), the band return with renewed momentum, sharpened steel, and the same unshakable dedication to classic heavy metal that has defined them since their formation in Växjö in 2001.
Released on January 9, 2026 via Steamhammer, ‘Kickstarter‘ is more than just a new album title – it is a statement of intent.
Bullet have weathered lineup changes, long gaps between releases, industry shifts, broken tour buses, and shifting scenes, yet their core remains untouched:
fast, honest, uncompromising heavy metal rooted in the late ’70s and early ’80s, delivered without irony.
The new album also marks an important turning point with the addition of Freddie Johansson on guitar, completing the current lineup alongside Dag ‘Hell‘ Hofer (vocals), Hampus Klang (guitar), Gustav Hector (bass) and Gustav Hjortsjö (drums).
As the band have already shown with the singles ‘Kickstarter’, ‘Keep Rolling’ and ‘Chained By Metal’, this is Bullet operating with renewed cohesion, clarity, and hunger.
To talk about ‘Kickstarter‘, longevity, loyalty, instinct, and what still drives Bullet forward after nearly a quarter century, Radio Highway Pirates (Fok ‘bs‘) spoke with drummer Gustav Hjortsjö.
When we last spoke with you in spring 2023, there was a strong sense of continuity and survival in Bullet’s story.
As you now approach the release of a new album, what genuinely feels different this time – beyond just new songs?
“The biggest difference is obviously that we now have a new line-up with Freddie Johansson on guitar. Over the past few years, we’ve noticed that we don’t really function fully unless we’re a complete band. Band dynamics are crucial for us in order to have a sense of direction, to build up momentum and get things happening. Bullet with Freddie is a different Bullet than Bullet with Alex Lyrbo or Erik Almström.”
Bullet have always carried the banner of traditional heavy metal without irony or apology.
In 2025, does staying true to that spirit feel like resistance, responsibility, or simply second nature?
“You don’t start playing heavy metal in order to take on a lot of responsibility – quite the opposite, really. Resistance is always part of trying to scrape by as a touring band, so that doesn’t feel very different now compared to 25 years ago. What we do as a band has always come naturally to us. If you listen through our older material, you can definitely hear some experimentation and searching – everything hasn’t always been crystal clear along the way, but if so, it has always been about honest exploration, never about trying to be something we’re not.”
The upcoming album ‘Kickstarter‘ signals motion, ignition, and forward drive.
Was this record born mainly out of frustration, renewal, or a pure hunger to keep moving?
“Once again, frustration is a natural part of writing music and making records after 25 years. We’ve never dealt with renewal for its own sake – changes or development in what we create have to come naturally. It’s more the hunger you mention that keeps us going. Like all bands, we’ve had moments of doubt or reevaluation of what we’re doing, but we always land in the same place: this is what we do. After 25 years, a band is no longer a ‘phase in life’, but something else – more woven into existence as a whole.”
Your relationship with fans – especially the ‘Bullet Bastards‘ – feels unusually personal and reciprocal.
How much do those long nights at bars after shows actually shape the band’s identity compared to time spent in rehearsal rooms or studios?
“All the parts you mention probably shape the band, and in a way, they’re all equally important. If you’re never in the rehearsal room, the band doesn’t exist, and if you never go into a studio and record anything, people will at least think you’ve stopped existing – so those parts are obviously vital. But being out there and meeting the people you feel connected to in the way you do within the heavy metal scene is probably the biggest driving force for me right now. Without that part, everything would feel pretty pale.”
I first met you after a show in autumn 2019, when we celebrated together in a bar – no interviews, no agenda, just metalheads sharing a night.
Do moments like that still mean as much to you as festivals, press, and milestones?
“As I said, that probably means more than anything else, even though festivals are also a fantastic way to meet people and share nights together. Doing press is a nice reminder that you’re still somewhat relevant, but I’d much rather just talk freely over a bunch of beers – even if you happen to be a music journalist.”
Since your early days in Växjö, Bullet have survived trends, revivals, and algorithm-driven scenes.
What does longevity really cost a heavy metal band – personally and creatively?
“Looking back, you could actually argue that Bullet were part of a broader trend in the very beginning. We – and maybe bands like Crashdïet – were probably reactions to all the nu-metal and -core genres that started popping up everywhere. I mean, even many of those who were fully into black metal in ’98 still had their roots in Iron Maiden or Kiss, but around the turn of the millennium, the development seemed to completely lose its connection to classic hard rock. Later on, the scene exploded with bands that had more or less ‘retro’ influences. Some of them seem to have faded away, and now I’m not even sure what the trend is – Battle Beast? At least we created something we truly believed in, and that’s why we’ll probably just keep doing it. In the long run, I think that costs you less than constantly trying to follow trends or twisting yourself inside out to be insanely innovative and unique.”
Your music is often described as fast, aggressive, and uncompromising – but beneath the steel there’s also warmth and loyalty.
Is that balance intentional, or something that only becomes clear in hindsight?
“I think warmth and loyalty exist in all really great bands. There are plenty of bands out there that are faster and more aggressive than Bullet. If anything, we’re uncompromising to a greater extent. We definitely have integrity and are quite sensitive when something doesn’t feel right artistically – nothing with Bullet is done casually or ‘ironically’. At the same time, we like to have a twinkle in our eye and can be pretty silly at times. If you can’t handle that, things quickly become very uptight – few things are more embarrassing than people who take themselves way too seriously.”
Seven (almost eight) years passed between ‘Dust To Gold‘ and this new chapter.
What does time away from the spotlight give you that constant forward momentum never can?
“Even though we never really took a break or put the band on hold, people seem to receive ‘Kickstarter’ as a fresh start – maybe even as a reunion – and that’s probably fine. In some way, it seems to create a certain added value. I guess if you’re constantly and steadily putting out new releases, new gigs, new updates, people might start taking your presence for granted, and it becomes harder to surprise them. Time will tell whether it was good for us to have some air between releases. It’s not something we planned or even reflected on yet.”
Many bands soften their sound over time.
Bullet seem to sharpen theirs instead.
Is that a conscious defiance of expectation – or simply the only honest way you know how to play?
“I know that I personally felt ‘Full Pull’ became far too old-man-ish and lazy. With ‘Storm Of Blades’, I longed for more metal, but after that, things have mostly flowed naturally. Going into ‘Kickstarter’, we didn’t have any detailed master plan for the sound. We met up in the studio at some point during the songwriting process, listened to a few records, and talked about sound. We mostly landed on stripping away some effects and then letting the rest be whatever it became. We always use the same instruments and amplifiers in the studio as we do live, and we let that sound – combined with how we actually play – determine the final result.”
You’ve shared stages with legends, survived broken tour buses, lineup changes, and industry shifts.
What part of Bullet’s journey still feels unresolved to you?
“There are obviously a lot of places in the world we haven’t played yet – that’s definitely the biggest unresolved part. So far, we’ve mostly toured Europe. Of course, it would also be nice to reach a level where you can afford to expand the team around the band with proper management and a larger crew. Where gigs always pay properly and you never have to wonder whether there’ll be a dressing room, or whether you’ll have to beg for a few last beers at the end of the night. Most of the time things work out fine for us, but sometimes the level is still a bit shaky.”
Looking back at an interview from 2023, there was a strong focus on roots and instinct.
Has instinct become more reliable – or more dangerous – over the years?
“I’m not entirely sure what you mean by instinct here, and I don’t know which one of us did the previous interview. I assume you’re talking more about gut feeling, and that’s definitely something that builds with experience and therefore over time. So generally, I’d say instinct becomes more secure over the years – not necessarily more accurate, but easier to trust.”
In a time when heavy metal often competes for attention rather than loyalty – who do you really feel you’re making this new album for?
“We do what we do primarily for ourselves. Of course, we’re very happy and grateful for everyone who appreciates us and chooses to follow us. It’s sometimes strange how much impact you can have on people as a regular rock band. More attention would obviously help us reach more people who might understand what we do, but if you focus too much on that, you risk watering things down – and in the process, you might lose both yourself and your die-hard fans. Loyalty isn’t something you choose or compete over; it’s something that’s built over time through honesty in what you do.”
If someone discovers Bullet for the very first time through this upcoming album – what do you hope they immediately understand about who you are, without reading a single interview?
“It would be fantastic if new fans discover us through ‘Kickstarter’, by stumbling across the music first, without any biases. That’s how I discovered a lot of music when I was young. You understand everything you need through the music, the lyrics, and the imagery. What you don’t understand – or maybe misunderstand – can sometimes make it even better. Everything today is so influencer-oriented: behind-the-scenes material, the story behind the songs and processes often get almost as much focus as the music or the band itself. When I was 10 years old, I read in a regular newspaper that Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses only drank Swedish Absolut Vodka. I remember thinking that was completely insane. That kind of mystery and naivety was allowed back then. I miss that a little. Thanks! Stay Wild!”
‘Kickstarter‘ does not sound like an attempt to reclaim something or reinvent the wheel, but rather like the result of a band that knows exactly why it is still here.
Bullet have nothing to explain and nothing to prove – neither to themselves nor to the scene.
What remains is trust in their own instinct, loyalty to those who have walked this path alongside them for years, and the simple, almost old-fashioned conviction that heavy metal is at its strongest when it is not chasing attention, but truth.

The Swedish powerhouse Bullet released single and video for the song ‘Chained By Metal‘, a no-holds-barred celebration of speed, loyalty, and unbreakable bonds forged in steel.
The track offers another explosive preview of the band’s upcoming studio album ‘Kickstarter‘, set for release on January 9, 2026, via Steamhammer.
True to its title, ‘Chained By Metal‘ is Bullet at their most relentless.
Clocking in as one of the fastest and most aggressive tracks on the album, the song is both a battle cry and a tribute – dedicated to the band’s fiercely loyal fanbase, proudly known as the ‘Bullet Bastards‘.
“It was about time our small but relentlessly dedicated fan club got a song dedicated to them,”
the band explain.
“Once you become one of them, it’s hard to let go. You’ll become chained by metal in unbreakable links of steel.”
Musically, the track captures everything Bullet stand for:
razor-sharp riffs, blistering tempos, and an unmistakable devotion to classic heavy metal values, delivered with modern power and precision.
While its speed and intensity make it an obvious anthem, there’s also a sense of warmth and gratitude embedded in its DNA – an acknowledgement of the brotherhood and sisterhood that has kept traditional metal alive through changing times.
‘Chained By Metal‘ also highlights the stylistic range of ‘Kickstarter‘, an album that promises to balance high-octane aggression with the band’s trademark sense of melody and songcraft.
As Bullet put it, the song is ‘a perfect single to promote the album‘ and a clear statement of what listeners can expect from the record as a whole.
With ‘Chained By Metal‘, the Swedes make one thing abundantly clear:
their connection to metal – and to those who live and breathe it – is as strong as ever.

Swedish heavy metal powerhouse Bullet have dropped their brand-new single and music video, ‘Keep Rolling‘, offering the second thunderous taste of their upcoming studio album ‘Kickstarter‘.
The track captures everything fans love about the band:
grit, power, and that unmistakable no-nonsense Bullet swagger.
According to the band, ‘Keep Rolling‘ grew from an idea built around a steady, slow-burning, heavy beat – one that immediately reminded them of their older fan favorite ‘Rolling Home‘.
“It had that ongoing, slow and heavy pulse,”
the band explains.
“It reminded us of ‘Rolling Home’, but with a darker, stormier edge. So we figured – why not make it ‘Rolling Home 2.0’? The lyrics tell the story of how the Bullet-bus went from a wreck on the roadside to a metal monster with a new engine pounding harder than ever. This song means a lot to all of us, and it was one of the most challenging to record. A natural second single!”
‘Kickstarter‘ will be released on January 9th, 2026 via Steamhammer, arriving as a CD digipak (including poster), a gatefold LP, and on all digital platforms.
With ‘Keep Rolling‘, Bullet prove once again why they remain one of Sweden’s most enduring heavy metal engines – still roaring, still unstoppable, and definitely still rolling.

Bullet are:
Hampus Klang – guitars
Dag Hell Hofer – vocals
Gustav Hjortsjö – drums
Gustav Hector – bass
Freddie Johansson – guitars

The Swedish band Bullet got together in autumn 2001, with the aim of playing traditional heavy metal inspired by the late 1970s and early 1980s:
solid, authentic and classic, with a contemporary and timeless touch.
Seven years after their latest studio album, ‘Dust To Gold’ (2018), the musicians Dag ‘Hell‘ Hofer (vocals), Hampus Klang (guitar), Gustav Hector (bass), Gustav Hjortsjö (drums) and latest addition Freddie Johansson (guitar) are now back with a new album:
‘Kickstarter’ is scheduled for release on Steamhammer on 09 January 2026 and is set to prove that Bullet are determined to continue their almost 25-year career with the very kickstart referenced to by the album title.
This of course also includes Bullet’s iconic tour bus, whose engine exploded after one of their most recent shows, forcing the musicians to embark on their return journey without their rolling accommodation.
Naturally, this was the end neither of Bullet nor their battered vehicle – to the contrary:
The group’s classic heavy metal spirit and their unwavering DIY mindset have proved stronger than ever.
Having repaired the ageing bus with unwavering determination, oil-smeared hands and sweaty brows.
Bullet is now ready to hit the road again…
The band says about the first single ‘Kickstarter‘:
“The first choice of single release for the album kinda explains itself. Ben presented the idea of a song to what later became ‘Kickstarter’ during his time in the band. It was nameless at the time and had a bunch of working names throughout the process. As the album came together it became the obvious first choice for opening song on the album, first single release, as well as the bearer of the title ‘Kickstarter’. As soon as you hear the first snare hit followed by that bulldozer of a guitar riff you’ll know why!”