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October 12, 2008 |
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BROTHER FIRETRIBE - False Metal
Spinefarm (2006) |
9/10 |
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01. Break Out
02. Valerie
03. I'm On Fire
04. Love Goes Down
05. Devil's Daughter
06. Midnite Queen
07. One Single Breath
08. Lover Tonite
09. Spanish Eyes
10. Kill City Kid
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Despite today's tendency in the world of Metal to experiment and constantly add new elements to enrich a genre already rich of multiple transformations throughout its 35 some years of existence or on the other hand to simply go more extreme, Finland's BROTHER FIRETRIBE have decided to follow a totally different trend. This fairly new formation, rich full of NIGHTWISH guitarist Emppu Vuodrinen, had a primary goal to recreate the spirit of the '80s when Hair Metal/AOR artists ruled the North American FM panorama with singles (at the time) most likely to hit the top ten charts, often used to boost the soundtracks for action movies. The result is their debut album, "False Metal".
It is fair to admit that BROTHER FIRETRIBE prove they have what it takes - way beyond anyone's imagination. It's practically impossible for someone who grew up in the '80s not to feel tremendous nostalgia when the opening track, "Break Out", kicks in. It's meant to remind us the time when blockbusters such as the "Rocky" series as well as "Tango And Cash" used to run the silver screen. It sounds like a lost track from FOREIGNER's catalogue involving guitar solos never going beyond what could be considered as unreasonably long and keyboards that are mostly heard at the beginning of the songs or right before the very same guitar solos. I'm forced to admit that even if these Fins' music is meant to be fun (despite a strong sense of humour according to the album title, the ten tracks used in order to build-up this set are no joke.
All the major influences from that era can be heard throughout the album, including NIGHTRANGER on "Valerie" and "One Single Breath", as well as John Parr with "I'm On Fire" and BAD ENGLISH on "Kill City Kid". These examples are all to such an extent that even the voice of Pekka Ansio Heino seems to be able to come as close as possible to the style of each of these aforementioned artist, and even reproduce the style of SURVIVOR's longtime singer Jim Jamison to a near perfection. The vocal harmonies on "Midnight Queen" will make you want to hit the highway 101 and cruise all the way down to Mexico with the windows rolled down and the warm Pacific breeze in your face, Even titles like "Lover Tonight" as well as "Love Goes Down" have obviously been specifically selected in order to run with the atmosphere "False Metal" was bound to reproduce. This disc includes a total of three ballads, however if there was an award specifically designed for this type of songs, it should go to the very infectious "Spanish Eyes".
I don't necessarily believe in coincidences; however, this album might be released in North America approximately around the time when the final movie supposed to complete the "Rocky" series hits theatres. It is hard to believe that this album was conceived only a few months ago in an area where winters are unforgivable, rather than 20 ago in Southern California. It proves that BROTHER FIRETRIBE's label, Spinefarm, is committed to release top-quality artists regardless of their musical orientation.
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