Review Summary: This album has balls. BIG balls.
I still fondly recall the day I first discovered the no-holds-barred, audio-juggernaut that is Firewind. I was stranded in the desert of lost souls, the sweat pouring from my brow as overhead, vultures circled with growing appetites. Just when all seemed lost, I came upon a small abode, where in there dwelled a humble cyclops monk. "You look desperate, young wanderer. How lucky you are to have avoided the sandworms. You look in pain - do you need me to dress thine wounds?" With a tortured gasp, I replied - "It's not that..... The thirst, the hunger, the bug bites....those I can take. But I haven't heard a great album in AGES!"
Luckily for me, the cyclops priest relieved my pain, presenting me with a copy of 'Between Heaven and Hell'
And by Krom, what an album it was.
The opening title track, 'Between Heaven and Hell' pummeled me from every side with an instantaneous barrage of pounding drums and righteous riffs. Guitarist Gus G. had lacerated my ears within mere seconds, and I was left gasping and weak, slumped against the cyclops priest's subwoofer.
But it didn't stop there, oh no. The best was yet to come, in the form of 'Warrior', which is not only the best song on the album, but also perhaps the best song of all time (if the prophecy is true..)
Vocalist Stephen Frederick's soaring vocals spoke to my very soul, carried along by a burning tidal wave of insane guitars. There was also Bass in there somewhere, and it was 'aight. I leaped to my feet and sang along to the shiver-inducing chorus:
"Eons pass, the tales are told.
Battlefields have all grown cold.
Elders sing of warriors, Hail tooooooo the glooorrry ooofffffff............."
The whole affair was so divinely kickass that I was forced to ride out into the ancient mountains, slay the nefarious frost dragon, and rescue a fair maiden. Her tits were massive.
The rest of the album never quite reached the giddying heights of 'Warrior', but was still solid as a golem's gallstone, and made a great soundtrack for dragonslaying or video games or whatever. Other standouts included 'Tomorrow can wait', 'Firewind Raging and 'I will fight alone'. The last track, 'Who am I' shows a slightly more sensitive side to Firewind, and goes down a treat whilst doing fair maidens in the sack.
To sum it up, 'Between Heaven and Hell' was and is a truly kick-ass album, with soul-scarring solos, bone powdering drums and spirit-stirring vocals. And like I said before, there's Bass in there somewhere, too.
If thou soul art pure, and thine ear loves grade A powermetal Cheese, give this disc a spin.
It could prove the most epic quest of your life.
