Finland make it two in a row. After the brilliance of OD comes the well established melodic rock heroes Brother Firetribe.
Following one of the most bombastic intro’s since Meat Loaf’s I’d Do Anything For Love, BFT hit the ground running with a typically boisterous riff infused opener with Help Is On The Way.
Production seems to be a notch up from the last album and there’s a sense of maturity within the songs.
Indelible Heroes is a wonderful keyboard drenched tribute to the greats that have left us which moves perfectly into the previously released single Taste of a Champion (one of the band’s great songs).
Elsewhere in the album highlights are plentiful as expected - Last Forever and Give Me Tonight both rock along at a fine pace. Then I find that the next couple of tracks don’t quite have the impact hoped for until the mid-tempo Heart Of The Matter corrects course with a great chorus which is followed by the band’s usual foray into classic soundtrack territory – this time covering the John Parr classic Restless Heart in perfect style.
Finishing the record on a high is the double header of the keyboard heavy Big City Dream and the ultra-moody drama of Phantasmagoria, every bit as epic as the title suggests.
The band’s Heart Full Of Fire is still my favourite album but this one might sneak into second place once I’ve lived with it another 6 months or so. It’s packed with the typical guitar/keyboard duelling melodies we have come to expect and demand from these very accomplished musicians. A simple review, but not a simple album. It will take a few listens to blossom, but once it does you can’t take that back.
Yet another 2017 melodic rock highlight.
