AFM Records [Release date : 08.03.24]
10th album from Power Metal band, Firewind.
The band, Gus G, Herbie Langans, Petros Cristo and Jo Nunez have established their Power Metal credentials over and over again during the last 25 years, with all four continually investing in a whole that’s clearly greater than the sum of the parts.
Gus G is a ferociously talented axeman. His guitar oriented songwriting skills merge seamlessly with Langan’s macho roar, beginning Stand United with the stomping ‘Salvation’ and ending it with the love conquers all ballad, ‘Days Of Grace’.
And they maintain an ever present air of engaged cool, cranking up the rhetoric and the guitars to an operatic intensity, delivering hulking Power Metal songs with sinuous, mature grained hooks, like ‘Destiny Is Calling’ and ‘Come Undone’.
‘The Power Within’ dials down the intensity (a bit), riffing on a tough as teak guitar ostinato, as does the more streamlined ‘Fallen Angel’.
The album peaks with the blistering title track which makes no attempt to distance itself from NWOBHM giants like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.
And why should it? The genre survives and indeed thrives despite being continually talked down. Gus G’s finger blurring axe solo ices the cake, and Dennis Ward’s production gives the music the oomph it deserves.
Lyrically, the album’s issue driven songs take their lead from the title track. References to Climate change, Nuclear war and Global pandemics are threaded through the album, existential dangers that throw a scare into anyone paying attention.
That said, there is little difference to be detected in style and delivery, between one Firewind album to another. Like AC/DC, with whom they have a passing resemblance, they long ago dismissed the notion of artistic growth. They’ve nothing to prove now, they just keep on pounding out album after album of eminently strong Power Metal songs.
Works for me. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
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