Debut EP from Brian Bee Frank

After half a century embedded in the fabric of the music world, Brian Bee Frank now arrives at a thrilling moment in his decorated musical adventure. Hailing from Sweden, his story stretches back through decades of bands, stages and shifting identities, a long arc that’s now curved inward, toward something more personal. Having spent years fronting Canadian HM outfit Rapid Tears in the 70s and 80s before leading Killer Bee from 1990 through to 2018, he steps forward under his own name.

There’s a particular weight that comes with that kind of history; not nostalgia exactly, but perspective that can’t be rushed or replicated. The move forward as a solo artist feels like a natural continuation rather than a departure, an opportunity to gather everything he’s learned and channel it into something direct and entirely his own. After years of collaboration, compromise and shared momentum, this is a project now taking shape in emphatic fashion.

That vision takes shape in his debut solo EP titled Chasing the Dragon, release that carries both the imprint of experience and the spark of something newly claimed. Backed by a group of collaborators including guitarists Peter Gillström and Mikael Dahlin, keys from Pelle Karlsson, bass from Tobbe Moen and drums from Martin Eklöf, the record is formed with a sense of collective musicianship firmly centred around Brian’s voice.

The recording process itself adds another context to the project’s identity, created in Sweden, the EP was shaped through a significant amount of remote collaboration, reflecting a modern approach to music-making that stretches across distance while still maintaining a sense of cohesion. It speaks to an artist who, even after decades in the industry, remains open to developing methods and new ways of working.

The themes explored across Chasing the Dragon lean into that sense of reflection, with lead single “Hate” confronting the fractures of modern society, looking toward a world that feels increasingly divided while holding onto the idea that peace and love remain possible. Stacked with crunching guitars and steady drums, Brian’s commanding vocals ring out above to craft a gripping alternative rock anthem. There’s a thread connecting his perspective to his upbringing in the 60s, a time that continues to echo through his songwriting and the track sits in that tension, acknowledging both the weight of division and the desire for something better.

“Living In The Changes” lands with the patter of drums as gritty guitar stabs and sliding bass notes set up a grooving metal-tinged scene that rolls with slick lead guitar licks. It’s a raucous rock rollercoaster packed full of enthralling instrumental energy and vocal swagger that puts Brian’s engaging songwriting and incredible performance talents on full display.

“Time” offers a more reflective turn, focusing on the nature of existence, a theme that feels inevitable for an artist with such a long and varied career, but it’s handled with a sense of honesty rather than sentimentality. Wrapped up in a more delicate, acoustic-focused arrangement, Brian’s expressive voice floats above intricate guitar plucks, framing his songwriting in a stripped back setting before the track launches with driving guitars and punching drums. “Shake It Loose” arrives with grooving guitar lines, and bright organ tones, slipping into a wild rock ride cut with soaring lead guitar work and belted vocals to form a sound that takes cues from the rock greats of yesteryear, filtered through Brian Bee Frank’s unique sonic lens.

Closing the EP with “Let Me Come Home,” an elegant soundscape of bright piano plinks, warm chords and steady rhythmic sway underpins Brian’s voice to deliver a classic rock outing that gently blooms with anthemic energy and pop-inflected songwriting. Making his entrance as a solo artist in a spectacular way, with Chasing the Dragon, Brian Bee Frank opens an unmissable new chapter in his enduring sonic story.

Listen to Chasing the Dragon below