{"id":18274,"date":"2026-06-12T11:22:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=18274"},"modified":"2026-06-12T11:22:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:22:53","slug":"news-bjorn-stigsson-legacy-continues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/news-bjorn-stigsson-legacy-continues\/","title":{"rendered":"News: Bj\u00f6rn Stigsson legacy continues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00d6<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

XT RETURNS & A LOST CHAPTER OF SWEDISH CHRISTIAN METAL IS FINALLY REVEALED<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Few musicians have left a mark on Christian metal quite like Bj\u00f6rn Stigsson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the guitarist, songwriter, and driving force behind Swedish metal pioneers Leviticus, Stigsson helped establish the foundation of European Christian metal during the 1980s. Through landmark albums such as The Strongest Power<\/em>, Setting Fire To The Earth<\/em>, and Knights Of Heaven<\/em>, Leviticus became one of the most influential Christian metal bands outside North America and inspired generations of musicians who followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet one of the most important chapters of Bj\u00f6rn’s musical journey remains largely undiscovered by many fans\u2014especially in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That chapter is XT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the conclusion of Leviticus in 1990, Stigsson joined forces with vocalist Sonny Larsson, one of the finest voices in Christian rock and metal. Known for his work with Motherlode and Bj\u00f6rn’s acclaimed Together With Friends<\/em> album, Larsson brought soaring melodies, remarkable range, and world-class vocal performances to everything he touched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, Stigsson and Larsson created one of Christian metal’s most underrated partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 1992 and 1995, XT released three outstanding albums that showcased a natural progression from melodic hard rock to increasingly powerful metal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

XT (1992)<\/strong>
A strong debut filled with melodic hooks, thoughtful songwriting, and the chemistry that would define the band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taxfree (1993)<\/strong>
Widely regarded as one of the hidden gems of Christian melodic hard rock, blending memorable hooks, polished musicianship, and some of the strongest songwriting of Stigsson’s career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extended Empire (1995)<\/strong>
The heaviest and most ambitious XT album, combining traditional metal, melodic metal, power metal, and progressive influences into an epic listening experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although critically praised and beloved by those who discovered them, these albums never received the level of distribution and exposure in North America enjoyed by many of their contemporaries. For fans of Leviticus, Guardian, Fear Not, Saint, Sacred Warrior, Bride, Narnia, and classic melodic metal, XT remains one of Christian metal’s best-kept secrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That changes now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retroactive Records has worked tirelessly with Christian Liljegren and Melodic Passion Records to facilitate the return of all three classic XT albums<\/strong>, newly remastered and restored for a new generation of listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

XT REISSUE PROGRAM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

XT (1992)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n