Firewind – Firewind Album Review
So I have to say, Firewind exceeded my expectations. Honestly, I never really listened to Firewind before this. Sure, I knew Gus G and always admired him as a guitar player. But Firewind was never one of those bands I checked out. Now that I heard their new self-titled album, I’m glad I checked out the album (and even dug into their discography). This album may be one of my favorites so far this year.
The album starts off strong with “Welcome to the Empire.” Some of the most beautiful guitar work can be heard, and then the song suddenly slaps you with heavy drums and powerful vocals. This song is one of the ones that has the biggest impacts on me; it’s very aggressive but catchy, like a true heavy metal song.
The solo toward the end of the song is also one of my favorites on the album. It’s not constant shredding; the technical playing is mixed with unique melodies that grasp you. These melodies rang throughout the entirety of the song, adding an extra bit of oomph to an already solid track.
Rising Fire is one of the songs they released as a single and I totally understand why. It’s definitely the most catchy and showy song on the album. At the same time, it’s not cheesy. The vocal melodies are addicting, especially in the chorus. There’s some great shredding in the song and the whole track has so much energy. Overall, it’s just a solid song that is a perfect single.
Longing to Know You slows things down. I especially appreciate this song because you hear a new side to Herbie Langhan’s voice; you truly hear how beautiful his voice is. Even as a slower song, it’s a memorable song. Slower songs tend to be boring, but this track has the perfect amount of melody and power to keep you hooked. I would be surprised if this doesn’t get released as a possible single because it’s a gorgeous song.
Not every song on the album is powerful. “Perfect Strangers” softens things up a bit. It’s a more melodic song; while many bands use melody really well, the melody here makes this song generic and boring. The song picks up toward the end, but this is definitely one of the simpler songs on the album.
“All My Life” is a vivid song. That’s the best way to describe it. The keyboards throughout the song is what really gives it life. This song also shows how versatile of a guitar player Gus G really is. His guitar work goes from beautiful melodies to complex riffs very quickly. It’s a very unique song and stands out from the rest of the songs on the album.
The album ends with “Kill the Pain.” The song sounds like Judas Priest worship, best way to explain it. Both the guitars and drums immediately hook you in and there are some seriously impressive guitar licks on this track. While the homage to classic heavy metal is evident, there is the classic Firewind sound in here. It’s definitely more progressive, with the varying guitar and keyboard stylings as well as the crazy chord progressions. Overall, this is a crazy track and is the best way to end the album.
Overall, the self-titled Firewind album is a success. There’s plenty of aggression, plenty of melody, and of course Gus G shows off his virtuoso guitar talent. I know a lot of Firewind fans will have to get used to Herbie, but I honestly really like his voice for Firewind. I definitely recommend this album — to both seasoned Firewind fans and new fans, like me!
Rating: 8/10
