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FIREWIND
Still Raging: Live at Principal Club Theater
2023 AFM Records

Greek power metal quartet FIREWIND will release a new live Blu-Ray (with double CD digipak included) to commemorate their 20th anniversary, on September 1st. The album was recorded and filmed live on the band's home turf last year at the Principal Club Theater in Thessaloniki, Greece on October 1st, 2022. The lineup is the same as on the band's most recent studio album, Firewind (2020): Gus G. (guitar), Herbie Langhans (vocals), Petros Christo (bass) and Johan Nunez (drums).

Typically, a band like FIREWIND that has a lengthy catalog will utilize a live album as a 'greatest hits' package, and I'd say that is the case here, plus a few surprises thrown in. The band launches the show by blasting into "Welcome To The Empire", the initial track from the album, Firewind. Next, the band plays "I Am The Anger", from their second album, Burning Earth (2003) and "Head Up High" from The Premonition (2008), before heading back to the self-titled album again for "Devour". Then we go all the way back to the first album, Between Heaven and Hell (2002) for a real treat, "Destination Forever", before returning yet again to Firewind for "Orbitual Sunrise". And that's just the first six songs of the show!

From Firewind, the band also plays "Overdrive", "Break Away" and "Rising Fire", for a total of six songs from that album. The audience responds well to the heaviness of "Between Heaven and Hell" (from the album of the same name), as well as "Mercenary Man" and the band's excellent cover of Michael Sembello's "Maniac", both from The Premonition, A little pit actually breaks out during a few of the heavier songs in the second half of the set. Herbie's voice sounds great overall, and lends itself well in particular to the band's early material, due to him sounding similar to first singer Stephen Fredrick. Days of Defiance (2010) is represented in the set with "World On Fire". Immortals (2017) is represented with "Ode To Leonidas", "Hands Of Time" and the ballad "Lady of 1,000 Sorrows". The encore consists of the aforementioned "Hands of Time", as well as "Few Against Many" (from the album of the same name) and one of my all-time favorite FIREWIND songs, "Falling To Pieces" from Allegiance (2006). Gus extorts the audience to "jump the fuck up!" and they happily oblige. Overall, eight of the band's nine studio albums are represented in this set.

Drummer Johan Nunez contributes a four-minute solo and Gus G. uses the instrumental "The Fire And The Fury" (from Burning Earth) to show off his immense guitar shredding skills. Gus also speaks to the crowd in Greek on several occasions, I'm not sure what he's saying (it's all Greek to me - sorry), but it shows how his heart belongs to his home country and fans for sure. The club is packed and the crowd is fairly engaged throughout the show, often singing along without being prompted. The band responds by playing their asses off. Kudos to the entire band, who play like a well-oiled machine, and for digging into the archives for older material; that's what makes this concert package special. Video-wise, I appreciate the lingering shots, and not so many quick cuts that ruin most live videos for me personally. There's a pretty cool light show, as well as smoke cannons, and even a confetti drop at the end of the set. Right before the band takes their bows, they are presented with a 20th anniversary cake! This occasion was truly important to the band and is a real milestone for any band to celebrate. Congratulations! Go to this location to purchase: https://shop.afm-records.de/firewind/

4.8 Out Of 5.0