Tag: bonfire

This is album number three for these German melodic rock maestros. Well, technically it’s record number eight as the band changed their name from Cacumen to Bonfire just before the recording of Don’t Touch The Light.

This is a great album produced by Michael Wagener who gives the songs that little touch of gold that he does on most of the albums he was involved in. Other than mainland Europe, Bonfire didn’t break through as well as they should have especially with this album as it’s a melodic rock gem.

It has well crafted songs, with patented huge hooks and choruses, and snappy little solos when required. That’s all you need! I’ll pick my favourites as the album’s a bit of a stormer. Waste No Time has a superb hook, and the riff and groove are guaranteed to satisfy. Your Back is my overall favourite track as I love the fast uptempo groove and the guitar playing is so good.

If you come across this on your travels I suggest you snap it up.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the band’s first album as Bonfire released back in ’86. Recorded at Dieter Dierks’ studio (as were a lot of Scorpions albums) – vocalist, Claus Lessman, does sound like Klaus Meine at times. It has a pretty standard mid-eighties hard rockin’ sound with a decent production, although the snare drum sound is very annoying at times. The band didn’t do a whole bunch in the UK, but in mainland Europe they were huge, and towards the end of the eighties they had some success in the US.

I’m a sucker for big overblown intro’s, and that’s what the band deliver here before kickin’ into Starring Eyes, which is a straightforward rocker. Hot To Rock is the best track on the album – a nice uptempo rocker with a great sing a long chorus. You Make Me Feel is a typical euro ballad – a la Winds Of Change. Side 1 closes out with Longin’ For You – with its riff heavy groove, it’s almost NWOBHM in feel.

The title track opens up Side 2 and it is a mid-tempo plodder with a simple riff, and a very melodic chorus that almost sounds as though it belongs to a different song. SDI follows and is quite slow with a chugga riff – it’s quite basic in its make up. No More is next up and is a straight up fat riff groover with a nice melodic chorus. The album closes out with L.A, and I guess it’s the band’s homage to their favourite city. Sure, it’s quite cheesy, but it’s a a great fun track.

Not the best album by the band, but it’s cool to go back and see how it all came together.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Believe it or not, the band released four albums under the name of Cacumen before the record company advised them to change the name to something a bit more catchy. They made the change for the Don’t Touch The Light album in ’86. The Fireworks album was the follow up release.

It’s a classic sounding hair metal album with all the clichés present and correct, and has a killer production by Michael Wagener. Ready 4 Reaction opens the album up in fine style with a killer riff and double kick groove. Nevermind follows and has a choppy riff with a sing-a-long chorus and superb guitar solo. Sleeping All Alone slows the pace down with a slow stomp beat, and a Journey style chorus with all the harmonies. Hans Ziller (who is the only member to be on every album) is one hell of a guitar player and his solos lift every song. Champion has a very metal riff and groove with a ripping solo. Don’t Get Me Wrong is very reminiscent of their countrymen the Scorpions with a very familiar feel.

Talking of the Scorpions, You Make Me Feel, which was also on the band’s previous album, has a very Winds Of Change vibe going down. The keyboard intro to Sweet Obsession sees the band at their melodic best – this should have been released as a single, especially in America. Rock Me Now has the big production vibe – it starts real slow before the galloping riff and beat kick in and could be my favourite on the album. American Nights has a very simple riff, a big chorus and melody, and as the title suggests, is very much aimed at the US. Fantasy is one of two ballads on the album and is tolerable with the big guitar chorus section. The album closes out with Give It A Try which is the other ballad – I don’t really like this much, as with all ballads from metal/rocks acts, they are mostly record company driven.

9/10 from The Grooveman.