J-Man Embrace The Sun

Firewind is certainly among the more popular modern power metal outfits, and Days of Defiance is an album that was widely praised as one of the best Euro-power metal albums in recent memory. Although I haven't been a follower of the band for a significant amount of time, I was blown away at first listen by Days of Defiance. What Firewind has done here is taken everything that's great about European power metal, stripped away that unnecessary layer of cheese, and created a killer album to go down for the ages. This isn't the most innovative or revolutionary album out there, but the musicianship and compositions are so excellent that it's easy to excuse the band from a slightly derivative approach. Firewind is head and shoulders above the competition, and Days of Defiance is perfect proof of that. I'd recommend all fans of power metal to give this a shot.

The music is fairly standard Euro-power metal - it's the stellar compositions and arrangements that really set Firewind apart from their competitors. This isn't a terribly unique or original album, but who cares when the music kicks this much ass? Tracks like "The Ark of Lies" and especially the breathtaking instrumental "SKG" prove Firewind's brilliance in its purest form. The technical capabilities of the musicians here are impeccable, to say the very least. Keyboards in power metal are usually there to add extra bombast and atmosphere, but Bob Katsionis proves that he isn't here just for some neo-classical arpeggios and symphonic chords. He has some amazing shredding solos - as a keyboard player myself, it's great to hear a band utilizing their keyboard player as much as Firewind does here. The lead guitar work from Gus G. is also spectacular; he's a multi-faceted player who can transition from blazing shred-solos to melodic riffing in the blink of an eye. That's honestly one of the greatest things about Firewind - there's nothing quite like hearing professional and skillful musicians playing incredible music. Firewind is simply a fun band to listen to; that in itself is a shining asset.

The production is certainly bombastic and powerful, but there is a raw edge to the sound that keeps too much cheese from creeping its way in. I personally love the sound of Days of Defiance.

Conclusion:

Days of Defiance served as my introduction to Firewind, and calling it a great entrance point would be an understatement. If you like many of the concepts behind European power metal but are lactose intolerant (i.e. don't like cheese), you'll definitely want to check this album out. I'll go with a confident 4 star rating for another top-notch effort from Firewind. This was one of the best power metal albums from 2010 - fans of the genre shouldn't miss out on this gem.

Pelata Woah! Not what I expected at all! This is an aggressive, fire-breathing monster of a power metal record! Honestly, I was a bit amused at the name "Firewind". It struck me as typical, cliche, and almost immediately jaded my opinion before even hearing the album. But as soon as the opening track began barreling out of my speakers, every bit of humor I got from the band name got incinerated by the intense riffing of Gus G.

Gus, also a member of Dream Evil (2010 edit - now Ozzy's right hand man), is the star of this record not only with his riffs but with his passionate, way-beyond-skilled lead playing to boot! Listen to the harmonized dual leads on "Warrior" and try to not raise the horns in metal praise! Gus isn't the only killer to be found in Firewind though. Vocalist Stephen Fredrick (Ken Ziner) is phenomenal with his gutsy, melodic performance. He's a breath of fresh air in modern power metal. Far from a Kiske-clone, his raw, low-end melodic delivery is powerful and inspiring. Brian Harris (drums) and Honstantine (bass) prove to be a powerhouse rhythm section as well handling all the double kick-drum galloping and driving grooves with ease.

Every tune on 'Between Heaven And Hell' is worthy of mention, but that'll spoil the surprise. I already mentioned the opening title track and "Warrior", so I'll give you a couple more to whet your appetite. "Pictured Life" is a strong, mid-tempo number with hooks the size of Texas. "Northern Sky" begins with a beautiful clean guitar and lead theme before diving into a river of molten metal giving this instrumental piece a serious kick in the ass! Even without vocals, Gus G. manages to drive the guitar hooks directly and permanently into your brain. "Destination Forever" is a speedy, melodic killer with breakneck power and a very memorable chorus.

Ok, that's all I'm giving away (2010 edit - assuming you haven't heard this album by now). This is quite possibly the Power Metal record of the year for me (2002). Its not just melodic, not just loaded down with amazing guitar work, not just sporting killer vocal melodies, it's also heavy! The production of David T. Chastain is strong, clear and rich making this one incredibly fun to crank up. Believe me, I'm the first guy to call the Cheese Police on a power metal record so if I tell you this one is worthy of your 15 bucks, you gotta believe me!

Time Signature Kill in the name of metal...

Genre: power metal with balls

"Days of Defiance" has all the things that I like about power metal. There is focus on melody and pompuousness (although we are not dealing with epic power metal as such), and there are catchy choruses galore that you cannot help but to sing along to. Just check out tracks like "Chariot", "Embrace the Sun", "Heading for the Dawn" and "Kill in the Name of Love".

Another thing that there is focus on is the musicianship itself, and there are some virtuous moments on the album - especially in "SKG" which is pretty much a vulgar display of power (metal) in that it displays how technically skilled these musicians really are.

There is, happily, a distinct lack of cheesiness on this album, and nowhere does my cheese-o-meter react to the music. Actually, I think that there is a good and heavy punch to Firewinds music on this album, and there are even a couple of thrashy elements now and then. In addition, they also draw on classic metal in places, and Iron Maiden and Judas Priest seem to have served as primary sources of inspiration.

There's only one ballad, and those who have read some of my other reviews know that I am not a ballad-hater, but certainly very picky when it comes to ballads. The ballad in question is Broken" and I really like it. It is simple, touchy, catchy and just the way a rock ballad should be.

The vocalist, Apollo Papathanasio (Apollo! Now that's a f*cking heavy metal name!) has a big and powerful voice, which at times remind me of Graham Bonnett's efforts in Rainbow's "Down to Earth". I have been a fan of Graham Bonnett for a long time, and now I am a fan of Apollo, too.

Recommended to fans of power metal, classic metal and even fans of rock music in general.