Do
you still thrill to ’80s-era Whitesnake, Dio, Queensryche and Iron Maiden? Then
Firewind should slot neatly into your head-banging collection. What this Greek
powerhouse lacks in originality, it makes up for with a commitment to keeping
melodic hard rock and heavy metal alive in an increasingly disparate musical
universe. With leather-lunged Apollo Papathanasio on vocals (think David
Coverdale meets Bruce Dickinson) and guitarist Gus G. slicing through the
speakers with bombastic solos and massive power chords, Firewind flaunts
familiarity. Dark and heavy cuts like “Into the Fire” and “The Silent Code”
complement less-intense tracks such as “Life Foreclosed” and “My Loneliness.”
Anthems like “Head Up High” and “Remembered” sound ready for arenas.
An
ill-conceived cover of Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” from the Flashdance soundtrack notwithstanding, The Premonition offers a refreshing take on a genre that once ruled
the world.
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