Fireborn
Fierce Justice
In the past, it was commonl for Metal acts to spend some time working on shows to build a name into the scene and cause a roar of the fans to make a label begin to have interest to sign them and release an album. It is the main reason that BLACK SABBATH, MOTÖRHEAD, METALLICA, SLAYER, and many others released their first albums after two or three years, something that today isn’t usual anymore. But such thing happened to the Norwegian quintet FIERCE JUSTICE. After 11 years of struggles into the scene, finally they’re releasing their first album, “Fireborn”.
Hailing from the city of Oslo, unlike many could think at first, they’re not an extreme Metal band at all. Their musical efforts are based on a form of Heavy Metal that blends multiple influences, from Hard Rock of the 70s and 80s with Heavy Melodic Rock, some touches of groove here and there, and even touches of Speed Metal and Thrash Metal. Their musical approach on “Fireborn” sounds somewhat of dark and oppressive sometimes, but always boosted by excellent melodies and catching choruses and it bears the Norwegian Metal DNA, so it’s different from the usual, and it’s really very good. What are you waiting for to dive into it? The work on the sound production gave the band a powerful and heavy impact on its songs, but always given them the needed clarity and definition to make their musical work understandable for the hearers. All works in great way, allowing them to express their ideas as they must. And there’s a great artwork on the cover, indeed.
The true message behind the lyrics of “Fireborn” is about the moment we are living, and they call for actions to keep human race alive against all the odds the world is dealing. But one can experience how such flow of emotions can be intense and hooking on songs as “Doppelganger” (an excellent and aggressive song with Thrash Metal-like guitar riffs and lovely vocals showing and ample range of tunes, from aggressive to melodic ones), “Spineless” and “Rage” (another two songs filled with melodic Thrash Metal elements and excellent melodic hooks, with thunderous bass guitar and drums), “Awakened” (that old and good song mezzo power ballad with a melancholic feeling, and mezzo a heavy train, with many contrasts and excellent arrangements on the guitars), “Ancestral” (an abrasive moment filled with intense groove melodies and refined instrumental technique), “End of Time” (in the middle of aggressive outfit of the song, one can check influences inherited from Groove Metal and Hard Rock in the mix, and what hooking chorus and excellent solos), “Ashes of Desolation” (again a song with clear melodic appeal inherited from Hard Rock, a total bliss of musical weight, again with a heavy artillery from bass guitar and drums on the rhythms), and…
STOP RIGHT THERE! It’s impossible to point to better songs! The same inspiration felt on the previous songs can be heard as well on “No Apologies” (clearly influenced by 80s Heavy Metal and Hard Rock), “Ride to Hell” (a ferocious dirty Hard Rock song with a bluesy/Country-like feeling in some moments), “Bad Lucy” (a song with a clear Stoner Rock set of elements in some melodies), “Defiance” (a deep and melancholic ballad with heavier moments, filled with excellent vocals) and “Will to Act”. As final words, one can check “Fireborn” and enjoy, because the time between FIERCE JUSTICE beginning and the moment was used to sharpen things at its best.
Listen:
https://open.spotify.com/intlpt/album/3XTX08tCOxkHefcMUu1DZM?si=_7pxIAnbRlymmDlrJGjZOw
9 / 10
Almost Perfect
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Fireborn" Track-listing:
- Call to Arms
- Doppelganger
- Spineless
- Rage
- Awakened
- Ancestral
- End of Time
- Ashes of Desolation
- No Apologies
- Ride to Hell
- Bad Lucy
- Defiance
- Will to Act
Fierce Justice Lineup:
David Castillo - Vocals
Nikola Zastranovic - Guitars
Vegard Amundsen - Guitars
Gustav Rønning - Bass
Martin H. Herringbotn - Drums
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