Still Raging – 20th Anniversary Show
Album Rating: 9
Review by: Jim Harrison
Greek power metal band Firewind is set to release their live album Firewind, Still Raging via AFM Records. This is their 20th Anniversary Show recorded in Thessaloniki Greece in 2022 and will be released on September 1, 2023 on BluRay and a two CD release. The cover artwork is by artist Gustavo Sazes who has worked with Arch Enemy, Machine Head and Morbid Angel and gives the cover a raw live feel to it.
In 1998 guitar virtuoso and founder Gus G, created a demo EP “Nocturnal Symphony” to help secure a record deal while being an in demand axeman for many other projects. At this point Firewind was born and released their first full length album in 2002 “Between Heaven and Hell” and the journey began.
The band consist of Gus G on Guitar, Herbie Langhans Vocals, Petros Christo, Bass and Jo Nunez Drums, and is a well oiled machine that projects such a great performance you really get the feeling just how tight this band is.
This live album covers the depth of their catalog and the production is superb, sounding absolutely amazing.
Some of my favourite highlights start with track one “Welcome To the Empire”, the guitar that leads into the song starts the show off and you can feel the fan participation elevated the experience. This leads into “I Am the Anger” and again this is a one, two punch getting the crowd excited and the chanting by the crowd sounds so cool.
Classics like “Orbital Sunrise”, “Ode to Leonidas” and “ Mercenary Man“ give this album that Firewind punch of a combination of talented musicianship and hits that gives the fans lots to sing along with.
My personal favourite song is “Between Heaven and Hell” and this live rendition doesn’t disappoint and sounds awesome live . The fun fan favourite cover song “Maniac” really shows the inclusion of their catalog and the crowd loves it. Gus G breeds so much life into this track making it a metal classic cover.
The last track “Falling To Pieces” is another classic from the bands Allegiance album and ends things on such a high.
Gus G brings this live experience to another level with his guitar playing and Herbies vocals sound so strong and has perfect sound for this band. Petros booming bass and Jo’s killer drum beat, who also has a drum solo on track eight ignites this recording.
What I like about live albums is when you can listen to a recording and it makes you feel like you are right there, in the front row singing along and this album captures that.
The production is spot on giving this album a great sound and mix of crowd interaction and participation with the music.
This is easily one of my favourite live album releases in the past few years and I recommend it for that total live performance experience.
Gus G: Guitars
Herbie Langhans: Vocals
Petros Christo: Bass
Jo Nunez: Drums