ALBUM REVIEW: Flame burns bright for Fireland on third release

GIVEN that six years have passed since Fireland last released any recorded material, and guitarist and founder Steve Moore has been on Stormzone duties, you could be forgiven for thinking the fire had burned out into fading embers.

But, when earlier this year the first two albums were re-released there were smoke signals that more was to come, once more the flame was ignited and this month it is burning bright with 'Fireland III - Believe Or Die' out for metalheads delectation.

Ten tracks of classic metal are there for all to behold, but with a slight tweak to the Fireland sound, a more powerful overall vibe and more than a nod to developments across the UK and Europe, without losing the essence of Fireland.

Melodious guitar lines, riffs, choruses to delight and Moore wrangling his six-string into submission to wrench every last possible tone, this is nothing more than pure metal distilled down to its core.

True, there is nothing really ground-breaking, but that's not the point. This is what fans of classic metal want, no fuss, just great songs played well.

Drafting in David Brown of Chaos Frame, all the way from Delaware gives it an extra dimension to the sound and allows more room for Moore and drummer Chris Mawhinney to explore the dynamics.

Opening with a nod to 'Tallica on 'John Rock' the sense throughout the rest is a romp that will have everyone who cherishes metal of the early 80s beaming from ear-to-ear.

It is also refreshing to note that there are no abbreviated songs here., all well over four minutes in duration. However, it is on Fallen II - the sequel to the track from their 2008 release - that the band stretches its legs. Nine minutes plus of epic song writing and playing.

That said it is probably not the strongest lyrically, slipping into cliché at times, compared to the deeper and more exploratory words throughout the rest of the album, but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable.

Overall most tracks are strong - the only one that doesn't hit the highs of the rest of the album is perhaps 'Burning Scarecrow'. Having said that many a band would be happy to have that on their output and is only noticeable because of the strength of the rest of the tracks.

Songs like 'Hate Lives On' and 'Ironclad' make this a metal album that on first listen you let wash over you...on second listen you are sitting up and paying attention...on third listen your mouth will be aching as you smile and smile again.

Engineered , mixed and mastered by Moore at FireMachine Studio the sound has clear separation and a resonance that is needed for this type of record.

What is pleasing about this album is that Fireland show that there is much more to be explored in this variety of metal' - it's not about repeating the past, it's about bringing it back to life and showcasing it for 2016 and hopefully beyond.

This is an album deserving of gaining a wide listenership, and when they hear it heads will be a-nodding.

Review by Jonathan Traynor

More information and lyric videos are available on www.fireland.tv  

NEWS: FIRELAND album remastered and plans for new album in 2016

THEY were trailblazers in the early years of the 21st Century, and if you missed out then you can get a taste of what Fireland achieved as the band are releasing a remixed and remastered version of their self-titled début album in January 2016.

Formed in 2003, this version of the album will also include two unreleased tracks taken from the original recording sessions, Speak Up and Do You Know Me Now.

It will be available via the band's website at www.fireland.tv in January 2016.

The promo video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxu9JPzUTk8

The album has been remixed and remastered by guitarist Steve Moore, a founding member of Fireland. In recent years, he has co-written, and assumed full responsibility for engineering and producing the last three albums from Northern Irish metal favourites Stormzone.

Fireland are a twin lead guitar heavy metal band, drawing on all the influences over forty years of heavy metal. Based in Northern Ireland, the band will not let their location on the outskirts of Europe stand in the way of bringing their own brand of riff-based, powerful and melodic metal to the rest of the world.

To date, the band has played with metal legends such as Dragonforce, Blitzkrieg, Jeff Scott Soto, Blaze, Doro, Rose Tattoo and Girlschool. In other bands, the members have toured with Saxon, Stryper, Hell and Kreator, and performed at festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Sonisphere and Bloodstock.

The debut release was a four track EP entitled "From The Ashes". This was followed by a full length self-titled album in 2008. In 2010, the band released their third CD, a free four track EP entitled "Fireland II".

A brand new full length new album is scheduled for release in the summer of 2016.




 Full track list from the début album is as follows::

1.Servants Of The Dark

2.Star Crossed

3.Gods Of Love

4.My Eternal

5.I Am Invisible

6.In The Shadow Of The Sun

7.Fallen

8.Betrayed To The Night

9.Coming Home

10.In Her Strong Arms

11.Little Pieces

12.Widow By Morning

13.Gotta Get You Gone

14.Speak Up

15.Do You Know Me Now

Apathetic bloody planet...

Quick rant before moderate tone returns...

A Little Bitter kicked off the RockD summer programme on Saturday past. Ably assisted by Niyah Sky and Arcane, A Little Bitter opened the Limelight's metal doors with a bang. New tracks meled with old favourites in a cacophony of melted musical mayhem of the best type.

The only problem was there were barely a smattering of people who bothered there arses to show up. Now c'mon people - £5 in for three bands is damn fine value in these financially straitened times.

Now pay attention - the following RockD events are scheduled for The Limelight. A roll call will be taken and metal head status may be revoked if 50% attendance at the following gigs is not recorded :)

Saturday May 9th. Sinocence + Residual Effect + Rebels by Nature + Trucker Diablo. **Sinocence album (re)launch** Doors 5pm, £5.00
Saturday May 16th. Pagan Altar + Devilmakesthree + 2 TBC. Doors 5pm, £8.00
Saturday May 23rd. Fireland + Black Freeway + Death Warrent. £3.50
Saturday May 30th. Interrogate + Triggerman + No Grace Given. **Interrogate album launch** Doors 5pm, £5.00

Now to recap - loads of bands playing on Saturday early evening; the doors opening at 5pm...

If you missed out on A Little Bitter's album launch gig, you can still catch them in May 8th at the Northern Bar, Armagh. If you decide to see them at the Cellar Bar in Draperstown on Saturday 9th you can send in your RockD absence slip at the door next time...

Bonus points for those that spot where the headline quotation comes from...

Saturday reminder

In case you're doing nothing exciting tomorrow/today RockD presents Corral and Gacy's Threads at Katy Daly's for the tiny sum of £2.50 from 3.30pm....and after that there's the BNB Promotions Rosetta Bar End of Summer Bash with Celtic Legacy, Sorrowfall, Darkest Era, Fierce, Fireland, Valediction and Decayor. Doors 7pm Admission £ 5 Enjoy.

And there's a drinks promo... The first 25 people in the door get a free drink of the new Tennants 1885 Lager.Carslberg are also giving away an Ipod Nano at the end of the night. Everyone who buys a carlsberg will be entered into the draw, winner gets picked from a hat at the end of the night

Times: Celtic legacy 12.20 to 1.30 Sorrowfall 11.25 to 12.05 Darkest Era 10.30 to 11.10 Fierce 9.30 to 10.15 Fireland 8.45 to 9.15 Valediction 8.00 to 8.30 Decayor 7.15 to 7.45 Doors 7pm

I'll miss out on the RockD event and won'tbe up to the Rosetta until about 9ish...still time enough to bang some heads, rock out etc:

Summer ends...hell awaits...say goodbye to August in style

As we prepare the draw the blight that has been a washed out summer to a close, we can look forward to harkening darkening nights with a Rosetta line-up chock full of dark intent.

BNB promotions have laid on an End of Summer bash that will see Celtic Legacy, Sorrowfall, Darkest Era, Fierce, Fireland, Valediction and Decayor lay waste to the Rosie's venerable stage on August 30th (doors 7pm, £5 in)

As if that wasn't enough there's a drinky poo promo. First 25 people staggering up the stairs will get a free drink, new Tennants 1885 Lager.

Carslberg are also giving away an Ipod Nano at the end of the night. Everyone who buys a Carlsberg will be entered into the draw, winner gets picked from a hat at the end of the night.

Carlsberg don't do gigs, but if they did...

Blaze at the Rosie

Thanks to Dale for reminding me to post that A Little Bitter will be supporting Blaze Bayley on his Irish jaunt in October. On 9th October Blaze and A Little Bitter will be joined by Darkest Era and Fireland at the Rosetta. For £15 it's a killer line-up!

Twinning for metal the Fireland way

THE twin guitar assault of traditional metal has a long heritage – from Maiden to Metallica, with via the traditions of Lizzy, Scorpions, UFO, Priest, and Accept. Hard riffing, melodies and just plain straightforward heavy music.

For a brief period such classic metal fell from the headlines, but never from the hearts of fans, especially those that remembered, or yearned for, the days of cut-off denims atop motorbike jackets and beer-fuelled queues outside the Ulster Hall.

Coming from that heritage are Fireland, whose eponymous platter is now available in multiple formats – and well worth an investment from those who still love and respect heavy metal.

Of course, like any self respecting metal platters there are flaws, but thankfully few and far between.

Kicking of with the mid-paced brace of Servants of the Dark and Star Crossed Fireland’s intention is clear – laying down licks that are both mainstream metal (if there is such a thing!) and putting a Norn Iron stamp on it. Star Crossed in particular develops both a groove and melody supported by an arrangement that nods at the past and looks forward to how metal can develop.

In a world where speed is sometimes valued over composition (with the possible exception of Dragonforce, who Fireland have supported) solos can bleed into shredding for the sake of shredding, Fireland’s twin attack of Steve Moore and Jamie Johnston keep the licks in perspective, speeding up and slowing down as appropriate to the song, without interrupting the feel of the song and adding fills rather than leave a vacuum.

Gods of Love’s plaintive metalology serves as a warm-up for the pacier My Eternal, which explores the legacy of New Wave of British Heavy Metal, with structure reminiscent of early Diamond Head and White Spirit.

I Am Invisible’s chuggalong opening is the cue for a heads down romp, before In the Shadow of the Sun sees a return to the mid-paced ominous rhythms nailed by Chris Mawhinney on drums strive to deliver with much success throughout.

Fallen is the ‘Big Power Ballad’ of the album, and as scholars of the dark arts of metal know, no collection of riffage is complete without a power ballad! Fallen shows a depth of song writing Fireland can deliver. There are those that criticise the genre, in particular the propensity of even the hardest metal bans to show their sensitive sides (Nothing Else Matters anyone…) but in this track Fireland show their potential to reinterpret the cliché in an original way. And for the first time on the album Andy Baxter’s vocals are more prominent in the mix; matching both the solos and the riffage which completes all the best power ballads.


Betrayed to the Night starts gently before developing into what could have been an epic song – but it has possibly the only real flaw on the album. The inspired chorus and superb pacing are spoiled with a rap delved from nu-metal which should have been left on the cutting room floor as elsewhere on the track this is a simply superb song. This tendency reappears on album closer Widow By Morning

Fireland are on comfortable territory with Coming Home’s twin guitar attack, followed by In Her Strong Arms, which has the feel of Tesla after a night on Jack Daniels in its structure.

Little Pieces and the aforementioned Widow in the Making round off the album with intent, both keeping the structure of sound riffing, melodic choruses and balanced solos characterised on the rest of the album.

Overall, Fireland have strived to achieve something rare in Northern Ireland’s current metal scene: that is acknowledge what has gone before, reaching as far back as the seventies, plunder what works and discard the irrelevant to keep the sound fresh.

What is all the more remarkable is that they produced this themselves and created their own studio in the process. Perhaps therein lies the only real flaw. Sometimes Andy’s vocals are either restrained, or sometimes a little too low in the mix. As someone who can command a stage and belt it out with the best of them this ability is not always reflected in the recorded material.

However, this is a minor flaw in what otherwise is both crunching and thoughtful.
Fireland have created that rare beast – a metal album that stands aside heavy metal classics, but has a fresh Northern Ireland inspired twist. Bop along to the band’s websire, fireland.tv to find out more, download tracks and generally get into the metal mood!