THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: firewind

FIREWIND – Stand United

October 8, 2024 /

How many Greek bands do you know? Yeah, I’m struggling as well. This is Firewind’s tenth studio album and for what started out as a project for Gus G to get some tunes released, the band have done quite well, especially in Europe where power metal goes down a storm.

Salvation Day is a straight up and down standard metal song but the title track is anything but. Double kicks pounding all the way with a great riff, epic sounding chorus, and guitar overload, this is a beast of a tune. Destiny Is Calling is Judas Priest with a severe intake of exotic substances to boost that groove to the max. A nice change of pace with The Power Lies Within, a cool old school chugga groove with lots of noodling from Mr. G. Side one ends with Come Undone, a nice uptempo metal stomper with more notes than is feasibly possible sprayed across the middle eight.

A weird video game style intro to Fallen Angel that is otherwise speed metal 101. Chains follows and that Judas Priest vibe is back again. It’s that same chugga rhythm with the melodic chorus I guess. Land Of Chaos is my favourite track. Great riffing intro and I love the hook and chorus. Talking In Your Sleep is a no frills rocker. Days Of Grace closes out the album and it’s a power ballad.

They say old school metal is dead and yet here we are in 2024 with quality old school albums are still being released.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

FIREWIND – Few Against Many

April 22, 2022 /

Most people will be familiar with Gus G for his time as Ozzy’s guitarist – but this is his day job. This is the Greek outfits 7th album released back in 2012, and it continues with the band’s brand of melodic power metal with great riffs, killer guitar, and some epic vocals.

Opening track, Wall Of Sound, is a beast of a tune with a killer riff, groove, and a superb hook and chorus. Losing My Mind slows the pace down to start with before a huge epic riff and groove kicks in that reminds me of Metallica – Gus G’s solo is nuts. The title track is next up and rips in with a great drum groove and a huge riff – a big shout out to vocalist, Apollo, who is the owner of a great set of pipes. The Undying Fire follows and its more of the same, although this track doesn’t have so much to latch onto riff wise, but it dips its toe into thrash territory. Side 1 closes out with Another Dimension and it’s the fastest track yet with a super choppy riff and blast beat drums.

Onto Side 2 we go and Glorious slides into a huge chugga riff with a superb hook and melody. Edge Of A Dream is next (with a guest appearance from Apocalyptica) and we are in power ballad hell my friends – the only redemption here is Gus’ guitar. Normal service is resumed with the opening riff to Destiny with chugga’s a plenty and quite a commercial hook and melody. Long Gone Tomorrow is up next and has a really evil riff that I like, and then it’s into lots of chugga’s. The album closes out with No Heroes, No Sinners and they definitely believe in going out on a high – this could be my favourite on the whole album. It has lots of peaks and troughs, and it builds very nicely into quite a nice ending. A really solid album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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