Description

2024 press on lime green vinyl with gatefold cover. Limited 100 copies

Firewind have been something of a curious phenomenon in the power metal explosion of the early 2000s. The style that they play is pretty standard, comparing somewhat with more traditionalist 80s metal throwbacks such as Gus G’s other main project Dream Evil and Hammerfall, yet they manage to sound different and fresh when compared with a lot of the other bands that attempt to play in this particular style. Burning Earth represents a shorter and somewhat less powerful half of the two albums from the Stephen Fredrick era where their take on heavy metal succeeds in being heavier than most in their genre yet avoiding the moroseness of the extreme genres. Fredrick’s vocals are gravely and rough, standing at the very centre of the counter-tenor wails of Rob Halford and the husky baritone of Blaze Bailey. During the choruses of such catchy anthems as You Have Survived and I Am the Anger the vocal work almost punches past the rest of the arrangement. While he doesn’t soar into the higher stratosphere in the manner that most in the genre do, he more than compensates with sheer power. The only drawback is that this battering ram vocal approach even sneaks its way into the closing ballad The Longest Day in places where a softer change-up would be more welcome. Although the voice alone gives this album a heavy yet melodic edge, the entire arrangement pounds the sonic threshold of the listener into submission. Whether its faster songs like Steal Them Blind or down tempo stomping machines like Immortal Lives Young, there is a consistent picture of a mighty fist slamming itself down on a stone table and commanding your undivided attention. Balancing out the simple yet aggressive riffs and backing instruments is Gus’ flashy leads. One listen to the instrumental lead attack The Fire and the Fury alone solidifies his status as a guitar technician and composer as he effortlessly paints the heavy and fast starting half and the nostalgic quiet 2nd half with a unique mix of 80s shred influences. Fans of the purer, limited keyboard and deeper vocal approach of German acts like Iron Savior, Paragon, Sacred Steel, and The Storyteller will find this strongly to their liking. It doesn’t have the high flying speed of Gamma Ray, the asymmetrical song structures of progressive power outfits like Pagan’s Mind and Lost Horizon, but it makes up for it with a perfect blend of traditional metal aggression and the right melodic hooks. You Have Survived and I Am The Anger alone make this a worthy purchase.

Track listing:
1. Steal Them Blind
2. I Am The Anger
3. Immortal Lives Young
4. Burning Earth
5. The Fire And The Fury
6. You Have Survived
7. Brother`s Keeper
8. Waiting Still
9. The Longest Day