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Flames Of Fire

    
       
       
       
     
             
Flames Of Fire are a Swedish based heavy metal band formed in 2021 by life-long friends Christian Liljegren (Narnia, Audiovision, The Waymaker), and Mats-Ake Andersson. The two first met during the eighties - Christian was vocalist for the band Venture, and Mats-Ake was playing guitar in the band Zaragon - and over the years, their paths have crossed many times. The duo's desire to work together in a band has finally come to fruition, with the formation of Flames Of Fire - a reference to the burning passion the two have for rock and metal music. The band is completed by Jani Stefanovic (drums, keyboards), Per Schelander (bass), and Stephen Carlson (guitar) - with 'Flames Of Fire', the bands debut album, released in 2022...    
             
...featuring thirty six minutes of traditional heavy metal, very much in the vein of bands such as Iron Maiden, Stryper, and Crimson Glory. The nine songs (seven plus two instrumentals) on the album are book-ended with the two instrumentals - the anticipation building crescendo of 'New Dawn' opening the album, which then explodes into life with the first single (released off the album) 'Gloria', and a corker of a "metal scream" from Christian. Wow! As for 'Gloria', well, heavy hitting melodic metal is what's on offer. Bold, bombastic, and booming are all appropriate words to describe the wall of sound pouring outta my speakers - my neighbours must hate me with the amount of metal and rock music I play everyday. But saying that, I've never had any complaints, so maybe they actually love me! Anyway, on with the metal, and the majestic mid tempo march of the title song 'Flames Of Fire', and its highly anthemic and sing a long chant style chorus. Lyrically, 'Flames Of Fire' (the song) is all about the passion for performing - "it's running in my blood, music is my world, I want to sing out loud". Musically, it's a bombastic beast!    
             
Picking up the pace and galloping on like the metal of the eighties taught the world, 'Madness' is head bangingly addictive and the stuff of "foot on the monitor". The sound of traditional heavy metal fills the air, and I like it, love it, and absolutely crave it! This is the sound I grew up with as a teenager throughout the eighties, and it still gives me goose bumps now! But no time for that, this album is urgent, moving on at a relentless pace, not allowing you a single second to breathe. 'I Am' continuing the metal assault with unabashed authority - Flames Of Fire delivering a masterclass in how to perform heavy metal to the highest standard, to make it as attractive as possible to garner the attention of a worldwide audience. 'Time To Live' is another foot on the monitor gallop, a frantic foray of lively and highly energetic metal to get the adrenaline flowing and raise your fists high in the air to salute a cracking tune.    
             
At nearly ten minutes in length, 'Solution' is by far and away the longest song on offer. Opening with a passage that amounts to one of the most epic and tantalising anticipation laden intro's I've heard for some time, 'Solution' is a full two minutes in before vocals make an appearance - and when they do, the feeling of a Dio-esque epic descends upon the album. You know the epics I'm talking about, the doom laden yet theatrical interpretation of heavy metal, the majestic swagger and edge of your seat tension. What a song, and one I would call the albums centrepiece. The bands natural ability to deliver melodious metal is outstanding, with the albums final song 'Soldiers Of The King' a perfect example. The pace is fast with the traditional foot on the monitor feel in full swing, yet the infectious level is sky high. The outro 'End Theme' is like a warm down after a vigorous workout - calming down the blood, which was pumping like mad during the last thirty minutes.    
             
Overall, a brisk gallop of highly infectious heavy metal with a centrepiece that is worth its wait in gold.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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