If
jazz can have its Young Lions --
hard bop and
post-bop improvisers who came along in the '80s, '90s, or 2000s but faithfully adhere to the straight-ahead
jazz of the '40s, '50s, and '60s -- there is no reason why
metal shouldn't have its neo-classicist movement. And in fact,
metal does have such a movement: the
power metal revival movement. Just as the Young Lions of
jazz worship at the alter of
Clifford Brown,
Sonny Stitt, and
Art Blakey's long list of
Jazz Messengers, the
power metal revival bands that emerged in the '90s and 2000s have their own golden era to worship -- and that era is the '70s (when
power metal got started) and '80s (when
power metal became even more plentiful).
Firewind's
Forged by Fire is a 2004 recording that worships the '70s and '80s (especially the '80s) without apology, drawing on classic influences like
Ronnie James Dio,
Iron Maiden,
Judas Priest, and
Queensryche. Totally oblivious to
alternative metal,
rap-metal,
death metal/
black metal, and
metalcore,
Forged by Fire has all of the familiar
power metal elements -- larger than life lyrics, a very big sound, and bright, shiny guitars (as opposed to the downtuned, chugging guitars one expects from
alternative metal). The material on this CD is loud, forceful, and aggressive, but it is also melodic and highly musical -- and while
Firewind's grandiose songs aren't the least bit groundbreaking, they are well crafted and thoroughly enjoyable. Bottom line: die-hard
power metal enthusiasts who still can't get enough of
Dio's
Holy Diver,
Queensryche's
Operation: Mindcrime, and
Iron Maiden's
The Number of the Beast will find
Forged by Fire to be a derivative but rewarding contribution to the
power metal revival movement. ~ Alex Henderson
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