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Firewind – Few Against Many

Label: eOne Music
Format: CD
Released: 2012
Reviewed By: Rich Catino
Rating: 8.5/ 10


I love how in a music climate where, at least in North America, noisy metalcore/screamo ( I don’t know what’s worse, the band names, music or haircuts and clothes) and modern non- traditional hard rock/ metal sounds like Marilyn Manson, Korn, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold, etc (see any of the Mayhem Festival lineups) get all the press, sales and big tours, yet Gus G, (who is also Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist!) and Firewind continue to struggle for an audience and respect. Well, you know what they say…there’s no counting for taste when it comes to an opinion. Hello America!...everyone is always complaining what ever happened to the traditional hard rock and heavy metal bands from the 70s and 80s??? And who’s carrying on the traditions led by the pioneers into the present? And don’t get me started on how major station rock radio and television programs (That Metal Show, yes, I said it) ignore Firewind and the like.

 

Anyway…for those paying attention, this is Firewind’s 7th album since Gus started the band in the early 2000s. “Few Against Many” takes all those great qualities that make Firewind who they are, melodic vocals, riffs out the ass, complimenting keyboards, yet repackages some ideas without compensating sound and style.

A throbbing keyboard followed by guitar riffs and leads shows Firewind are confident in what they do. ‘Losing My Mind’ starts off slow and moody, building momentum to the hard hitting verses and chorus. One of the times where Gus takes Firewind’s music out of their comfort zone. Good. Drums kick off the title track which could have fit on their 2nd album “Burning Earth” or follow up “Forged In Fire” (also ‘Long Gone Tomorrow’) where Gus wrote darker more aggressive tunes probably due to serving some time in Arch Enemy (also see ‘Another Dimension’), yet has a nice break in the solo section. Again, good job thinking a little out of the box without losing self. ‘The Undying Fire’ goes back to “The Premonition” album and picks up moments from the first two tunes. ‘Glorious’ has single potential like ‘Falling To Pieces” (“Allegiance”) and ‘Embrace The Sun” from 2010’s “Days Of Defiance”. Piano, and strings provided by Apocalyptica, are the focus of ‘Edge of A Dream’, minus drums and bass with just a solo from Gus, A different kind of ballad. ‘Destiny’ gets things back rocking with a great upbeat tempo and one of the only times where the Helloween/Gamma Ray influence (which has been more prominent on previous albums) creeps in.

Digipack includes an acoustic version of ‘No Heroes No Sinners’.

Different arrangement of ideas within a recognizable style and sound a modern day guitar hero has been forging for many years. Great job Gus! Keep up the good work, ignore all the haters and ignorance. Trends and “what’s popular” always fades away. Those like yourself bypass the temporary hype.

 
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