It is hard sometimes to understand why there are good things that don't last long, probably the million-dollar question right there, yet no one could really answer. All we can hope is that there will be a continuance, a return. Throughout the years of Heavy Metal, there have been countless of 'Phoenix rising' cases. Nonetheless, there was, and also is, never a guarantee that such cases would be any good, or fruitful. The Greek Heavy Metal band, SPITFIRE, gladly, are on the right direction.

Being one of the most veteran bands in Greece, carrying with it a legacy surrounding their debut album, "First Attack", along with a few tragedies along the way, it felt to me that SPITFIRE needed to prove themselves time and time again. It started with their return with "Die Fighting" two decades ago, and now, a long time since the former, they are set to reaffirm their position with the brand new "Denial To Fall".

With such a title filled with so much conviction, and a direct approach, the band's music, which has been set by the foundation of 80s driven Heavy Metal, had "Denial To Fall" answer in kind. The album displays the melodic nature, and heaviness, of the later SAXON, but with a clear indication to their oldies, along with hard chops of ACCEPT. As a sweeter addition, the band's new vocalist, Tassos Krokodilos, showcases vocal abilities that shares an added value to the tunes with his broad voice range.

Evidently, by applying a songwriting style that delivers a straightforward insight, along with song structures that aren't overly challenging for a listener's ear, SPITFIRE were able to enter "Denial To Fall" to an age of Metal that is demanding technical songwriting and playing capabilities. Add to it the sound of the record, that is modern in its shell, yet old school in its core, this record evidently streams down smoothly. In one hand. the self-titled track, "Denial To Fall", proves the band's no hold bars, freedom to recreate past admirations, put to work into a juggernaut. And from the other end, there is the clincher, "Back To Zero", which I found to be a slight step forward in the band's musicality, displaying a song that would be great for live performance, yet also is interesting musically.

Whether SPIFIRE of 2022 is a success comeback story, I guess that listeners would decide. From my perspective, for a Traditional Metal album, "Denial To Fall" is an album that the Metal community needs, it delivers quality and attributes of what makes this genre a whole and no doubt a milestone in the band's career to continue forward from, yet probably minus the reaffirmation part.