Some fans ask the reason why many musicians are in many bands at the same time. The most honest answer: the need to work much more today to make a living. Yes, because there were many changes in music business due the illegal sharing of songs on internet, and even the use of the digital platforms gave a powerful blow on it as well. This is the reason of many bands touring a lot, because they need to see some merchandising to earn the musicians some money to live. And this is the reason for some of them using all the means they can to keep working solely as musicians, because normal business wouldn't allow them to play and record and all the stuff that many of you don't know. And it's the clear explanation of why I say many times to not support illegal downloads, and to pay the artists what's theirs (they create, so it's theirs). And as a good side effect, works as "Embrace the Unknown" of the quartet SPIRITS OF FIRE can be released.

The band plays a form of modern US traditional Heavy Metal based on the use of very good and charming melodies, heavy instrumental parts and a good technical insight. But pay attention: besides these words can give the (wrong) sensation that the band isn't doing something new, they play with personality, creating a very good musical work. But what could be expected from a band with experienced musicians that plays (or played) in names as SAVATAGE, ANGRA, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, TESTAMENT, DEATH, CONTROL DENIED, SADUS, PAINMUSEUM, FATES WARNING, GRAHAM BONNET BAND, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, METAL CHURCH, ATHENA, LABŸRINTH, VISION DIVINE and others? The quartet hired Aldo Lonobile to work as the producer of "Embrace the Unknown", and his creation is a sonority that embraces the melodic sense of the band's musical core, but in a way that sounds heavy, modern and aggressive at the same time. And there's a difference between "Embrace the Unknown" and his predecessor ("Spirits of Fire"): the presence of Fabio Lione on the vocals, but he is using some set of tunes of his voice that aren't common in his singing. But this aspect shows how his voice is versatile.

If one can resist to the catching musical appeal of this album, this one must have ear problems or isn't a Metalhead at all, because all the 12 songs are really amazing. But for a first visit on "Embrace the Unknown", you all can have a bit on "A Second Chance" (what lovely and aggressive melodies, based on a solid instrumental sheath, and what nasty and great vocals), "Resurrection" (this one has a massive and brutal heavy grasp, with nasty guitar riffs and great melodic solos played by Chris), "Wildest Dreams" (where one can check the accessible influences of North American Hard Rock on the melodies, especially in the guitars), "Into the Mirror" (another extremely catchy song with Hard Rock touches in some moments, and the work on bass guitar and drums is amazing), "Embrace the Unknown" (excellent contrasts between melodic parts and abrasive aggressive moments), "Sea of Change" (a deeper and different moment, with focus on introspective melodies, what allows the expressiveness of the vocals), "Shapes of a Fragile Mind" (that is showing a technical work of Steve's bass and Mark's drums), "House of Pain" (another fine set of contrasts between heavier moments with some Hard Rock elements) and "Out in the Rain". But all of them are incredible.

As "Embrace the Unknown" is the band's second release, it's not just a project, so let's hope that SPIRITS OF FIRE can stay with us for a long time.