Tag: bonfire (Page 1 of 2)

This may confuse some as this was the title of the first album that Bonfire put out in ‘86, after their name change from Cacumen. Main man Hans Ziller decided to revisit and re-record this album, giving the songs a whole new groove and sound using today’s technology. Hence the addition of MMXXIII to the title. I believe Point Blank and Fireworks are getting the same treatment.

I do like this new version because it’s given the songs that big arena rock sound. Good songs are good songs so Hot To Rock, Don’t Touch The Light, L.A. and S.D.I are still the stand out songs, but they sound much bigger here. Bonfire are a class act and are one of Germany’s best melodic rock bands.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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.