This the newest melodic Rock/AOR export from Finland. First caught into FIRENOTE's web while surfing at a familiar forum's topics list; recommended by a 'good source' friend it was not that long before we were submitted with the sweet quintet's official first release. The Danger digital single preceded this CD in late March.
FIRENOTE has many things in their music that shall fill the AORsters' faces with a deep smile; catchy music, an evident Scandinavian production and arrangement, some fine hard/heavy vocals by Ricky, a brief take on all things melodic/neoclassical during the last two decades and the clear fresh will of a rookie band aiming high. Most cuts are mid-pace, dressed in to-the-point keyboards and smell melody from far away. Digging a little bit more deep in the band's songmaking, what I liked the most but (maybe) will not please everyone out there - especially keeping in mind that seasons have changed - is the fact that both the instruments' and the vocals' sound is not as polished as seen in the vast majority of late melodic Rock/AOR releases, making FIRENOTE sounding not much of a 'pro-made' outfit but more of an original band, plus it redirects the final outcome to early works of some of the genre's most renowned bands (not only style-wise).
Urged(?) to provide the listener with some sufficient data often needed prior to taking a bite, FIRENOTE's songlist reminded me of the pre-The Final Countdown days of EUROPE, the first couple of TREAT releases, the most elusive melodic moments of Yngwie Malmsteen, some relevance to the deeds of BROTHER FIRETRIBE and...that seems enough for the time. Ricky's vocal style brought bands like AXXIS or EDGUY or STRATOVARIUS/KOTIPELTO to mind while some reference - and that goes for most of the album - to the thrilling H.E.A.T. debut is not out of the general picture (happy time tunes shall probably bring more of America forth). Songs like Firenote, Danger, Sara La Fountain, Love Me Or Let Me Live or Heartbreaker should request nothing for further validation, I dare saying.
I really like the band's approach, overall; they do appear to be more 80s-orintated in relation to the loads of similar CDs coming out the last two-three years (being worth your money or not - that's another story to be told). So, is it some kind of 'obscure' Scandinavian Hard Rock/AOR coming our way? It seems so. And - I repeat - Firenote's semi-vintage production is a good weapon in an era of over-practiced productions. Let aside the backing vocals that push the whole effort even higher.