Album review: FIREBORN – Reflections
Deko Entertainment [Release date 16.06.23]
Some readers might say if an album is potentially sub-three stars why bother reviewing it? Well, in truth, at GRTR! we don’t shy away in giving an album our honest appraisal and if nothing else it might save readers time and/or inform the artist. Readers can also compare and contrast with other, perhaps more glowing, reviews.
From the opening track ‘Young Heart Dies’ the one comment that might be drawn is “Doro clone”. It comes as no surprise then that this is a German band who were previously known as Dislike Silence.
The other problem is that the songs are not particularly strong or original and the playing at best perfunctory. It’s heavy metal by numbers.
An example is ‘Deep Blue Water’ which is a half-decent tune that could have been turned into something special not least with a more dexterous guitar solo.
Jenny Gruber is young, blonde, and no doubt has lots of energy and her vocals dominate this album. Aside from that Doro comparison they are an acquired taste, sometimes with a Bonnie Tyler-patented rasp. There’s little respite too. Gruber doesn’t really do slow and sensuous.
Maybe there‘s a good album here waiting to get out. Somebody should have said “tone down the vocals, crank up the guitars”. But they didn’t. **1/2
Review by David Randall
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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