This week I’ve mainly been listen to power metal, that’s right power metal. Now what’s mister AOR doing listen to power metal you may ask? Well, Its all a certain website managers fault and the e-mail that was received asking me to review this album and the new Prymaze album had  a short four letter answer sent back (editors note: which was ignored). The main problem I have with power metal, and it’s close relative progressive power metal, is in what I consider its repetitive formulaic approach. Consider the following: Mid 80’s Iron Maiden + Mid 80’s Helloween + Mid 80’s trash (perm any one of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth et al) and voila you have Power Metal - oh and for a bit of variety add in a soupcon of Queensryche for the prog variant. The other problem I have with most bands in the genre is that most of the songs are played as if it’s a race to the end, sort of on  your marks get set go. The drummer has a double bass set and tries to play faster and  faster and use every drum in his kit, the guitarists  see it as race  to see who can play the fastest and widdle the most, anybody who has seen the current video for Dragonforce’s Through the Fire and Flames will get this. Personally I was almost on the floor with laughter when during the guitarist trade off,  one of the pair helped himself to beer whilst the other one widdled. The vocalist says fuck that I’ll get there when I get there and sings normally and the poor bass player, well they are torn between the two extremes. 

So what am I doing reviewing the debut album from Melbourne's Crimsonfire  and do they float my boat. Surprisingly the answer to this is 'Yes'. Whilst the band do suffer from all of the above mentioned elements there is enough variation and other influences on display to make for an interesting listen. 

'Eternal Days' should be familiar to anybody who listens to ARFM, as this track is played on the advert for the album featured regularly on the station and opens the album in fine riffey style. Add to that the twin harmony guitar sound going on and the very Bruce Dickenson influenced vocals of  Louie Gorgievski and things certainly kick off on the right note. 'A New Dawn' opens with Domenic Pinto drums front and centre and is again very iron Maiden in style, with band galloping a long in fine fashion and the drummer racing through the track as if his life depended upon it. 

'Reign In Fire' commences with bassist’s Paul Yoannidis' clicky bass line and goes full-out for a couple of minutes before the keyboards of Dianne Melichar take over and the track goes all mellow, only for a second or two mind you so and then the guitars return and the track becomes very Stratovarious.  'Morning Of The Magicians' is my favourite track on the album starting as piano lead peace which i thought may have been the prelude to a ballad until three minutes in the drummer says sod this and joins in and the track builds and builds and builds to great climax! 

The Age Of Aquarius opens all Iron Maiden style until the keyboards come and the track goes into a power metal version of Deep Purple whereas 'Empire Of Fear' is simply a typical power metal track and my least favourite number on the album. Things get better with 'Darkside To Sanity', another piano lead track and this fact makes this band stand out in my book from all the other “power metal” bands out there, and builds into a great up-tempo track that I can see working really well live. 

'Region Of Legends' features some typical “ fantasy horror” lyrics but I do like the song even though even it features the guitarist and drummer racing each other  and then comes 'Tears In A Grey Storm' which is a truly stunning track in the Stratovarious mode again. 'The Rising Sands' rounds the album off in fine style opening with the drummers excellent cymbal work and the guitarist's pinched harmonics, very Iron Maiden once more.

In short although the lyrics are a  bit “ fantasy” swords and sorcery for my liking  I’ve enjoyed this album and it has blown the cobwebs way during the trip to work this week. This style of music is very popular on the continent and if they continue evolving the band should have a promising future in the field. The only problem I can see for though is the fact that they are Australian, and it’s bloody long way to come for a European tour! 

Checkout the website at  www.crimsonfire.com.au/

Let us know your views on 'Crimsonfire'

Track List

Eternal Days
A New Dawn
Reign In Fire
Morning Of The Magicians
The Age Of Aquarius
Empire Of Fear
Darkside To Sanity
Region Of Legends
Tears In A Grey Storm
The Rising Sands

Line Up

Anthony Tabone - Guitars
Dianne Melichar - Keyboards
Louie Gorgievski - Vocals
Paul Yoannidis - Bass
Domenic Pinto - Drums