Firewind – Firewind
Album Review By Rainer Kerber
He is one of the world’s best guitarists, Konstantinos “Kostas” Karamitroudis (Κωνσταντίνος “Κώστας” Καραμητρούδης), better known by his stage name Gus G. In recent years, other bands have also caught their eyes. Gus G. has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Arch Enemy and Dream Evil, among others. His actual band, however, is Firewind, which he founded in 1998. The first regular album “Between Heaven and Hell” was released in 2002. So far, the band has released nine albums, most recently “Immortals” (2017, DE # 72, CH # 45). Herbie Langhans made his debut on the tenth album.
Where it says Firewind, there’s Firewind. The quartet proves this with the opener “Welcome To The Empire” and “Rising Fire”. The master slides his fingers over the strings as usual. Everything the same? Probably not, newcomer Herbie Langhans pushes the songs with his charismatic voice to the punch. In between, Firewind tend to Speed Powe Metal (“Devour”). Would you like good old hard rock? Of course, you can hear it at “Orbitual Sunrise”. Interestingly, this song as well as “Longing To Know You” and “Space Cowboy” share a common textual concept – ” It’s kind of a Sci-Fi story about the overexploitation of nature seen through the eyes of a lonely astronaut, orbiting earth in his space capsule.” (Original sound Gus G.). In this musical trilogy, “Longing To Know You” is an epic power ballad. But the guys are really rocking again with “Perfect Stranger”. And Firewind are always good for a surprise. This is how “Overdrive” evokes memories of the Black Sabbath Dio era. Have you ever heard Firewind so groovy? And “Space Cowboy” offers the best retro rock atmosphere.
With their self-titled album Firewind cut out a worthy successor to the 2017 output “Immortal”. The old fans will love the album. And I’m sure that the band will also win many new fans. But let’s leave the last words to the mastermind. There is hardly a better way to describe this album:
The new album is an exciting and fashionable mix of Hard Rock and Power Metal. These songs are fresh but tough and melodious at the same time. In my opinion the record sounds exactly as a band in our genre is supposed to in the year 2020. But of course, the key feature lies with the quality of the composition, which has been our main focus again.
Firewind – Rising Fire: https://youtu.be/3iEZGCcy31s
Lineup:
Gus G. – Guitars
Herbie Langhans – Vocals
Petros Christo – Bass
Jo Nunez – Drums
Label: AFM Records
Out: May 15th, 2020
Playing time: 47:33
Track list:
- Welcome To The Empire
- Devour
- Rising Fire
- Break Away
- Orbitual Sunrise
- Longing To Know You
- Perfect Stranger
- Overdrive
- All My Life
- Space Cowboy
- Kill The Pain
Rating : 9/10
MHF Magazine/Rainer Kerber
