Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Bonfire
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2015
Running time: 67:14
Rating: 4/5
Bonfire are back. There’s no doubt about it. Before the release of »Glorious«, the veterans from German Ingolstadt went through some turbulent changes. If we rewind just a bit, in the fall of 2014 guitarist Hans Ziller announced the reformation of EZ Livin’ with David Reece on vocals, known for his vocal contribution to the Accept album »Eat the Heat« and for his work in Bangalore Choir, Tango Down and Gypsy Rose. Bassist Ronnie Parkes and drummer Harry Reischmann were also brought into the reactivated lineup. And out of all that, not long after, the Bonfire reformation was born. Audacious. Without Lessmann on vocals, no less. Guitarist Frank Pané joined the crew as well, and the band signed with the Italian label Frontiers Records. As a result, Italian multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer Alessandro Del Vecchio was brought in for the new album, handling the keyboard arrangements as well as layering in vocal harmonies.
Being a Bonfire fan over the last 12 years was definitely an exercise in frustration. The band simply hadn’t put out a good enough album to justify its golden era. And that goes all the way back to »Strike X« and »Fuel to the Flames«. The aborted rock musical »The Rauber« was a complete artistic miss, and the band’s promises of a return to the style and sound of their glory days and the album »Fireworks« were never delivered on by the releases »Branded« and »Double X«. Even though they do have a few seriously fine and powerful moments.
»Glorious«, though, is a proper follow-up to the band’s golden years. Ziller, the only original (and founding) member in today’s lineup, simply needed a total overhaul of the band to finally put together a credible album with no padding in the running time and no quality stumbles. There are a full 67 minutes of music on the album, but you have to subtract about 14 of those, which leaves a very bearable 53 minutes of newly written original material. Tacked onto the tail end of the album are re-recorded, freshened-up versions of the classics Sweet Obssession and American Nights, plus a less important, if not downright misguided, take on The Beatles classic With A Little Help From My Friends.
Ziller delivered an excellent production that sensibly blends the sound of eighties hard rock with 21st-century studio technology. The album is alive, but it carries subtle contrasts between the building blocks of the sound, and the harmonized vocals in the choruses and the layers of synths from Del Vecchio and Paul Morris add even more contrast to the sonic picture. Ziller also brought some seriously strong guitar phrases that he could easily have slotted onto any golden-era Bonfire album. In the mix the guitars are pushed way up front and stick out a bit, which is a typical trait of the German approach to hard rock. Reece serves up his trademark vocal style, which is strong and authoritative, and the touch of raspy gruffness he adds at times recalls Paul Stanley (Kiss) back when his voice was in top shape.
The album surely won’t spark a rock revolution on this planet, but for Bonfire it’s finally a proper follow-up to the band’s golden years, and it puts them back on the European hard rock map. The move to Frontiers Records will also »push« this album onto all the major music markets worldwide, which is very important for a band that is clearly enjoying a creative bloom and a new spring with it. Welcome back home, boys.
Lineup
David Reece – vocals
Hans Ziller – guitar
Frank Pané – guitar
Ronnie Parkes – bass guitar
Harry Reischmann – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Alessandro Del Vecchio – keyboards
Paul Morris – keyboards
Production
Hans Ziller
Track list
1. 21 Guns Salute (goes Boom)
2. Nothin’ At All
3. Can’t Break Away
4. Remember
5. Fallin’ Outta Love
6. Glorious
7. Supernatural Disguise
8. Shooting Star
9. Lies
10. Put Out The Flames
11. Free Wind Desperado
12. Sweet Obsession
13. American Nights
14. With A Little Help From My Friends
