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Metal Blade and Rise Above Records are proud to announce the release of Double Diamond, the sixth album by Firebird. Led by legendary guitarist and vocalist Bill Steer, the trio have recorded their most intense, focused collection of songs so far. Boasting a far more direct, upfront sound than any of the band's previous releases, this album sees Firebird commencing a musical journey that had only been hinted at in the past.
Beginning with the relentless "Soul Saviour", Double Diamond entices the listener with a succession of riffs, hooks and moments of sheer melodic abandon. Once heard, the snappy, succinct chorus of "Ruined" simply refuses to shift from one's head. "Bright Lights" is something of a mini-epic, clocking in at under four minutes yet somehow making the transition from a driving verse/chorus arrangement to an anthemic mid-section where both Steer and drummer Ludwig Witt push themselves to their absolute limits. "For Crying Out Loud" is perhaps the most immediate track on the album; its unstoppable thrust underpinned by the sonorous bass of Greyum May. Firebird then display a more subtle side on "Farewell", exploiting their dynamic range and settling, temporarily, into a slightly gentler pace.
"A Wing And A Prayer" sees the band return to full pelt. As so-called "road songs" go, this could rank as the most honest, least glamorous to date, backed up by one of the greatest Firebird riffs ever. "Pound Of Flesh" highlights just how far the group's production values have come, its haunting refrain providing a superb contrast to the stop-start nature of the opening verses. A slightly more exotic approach can be heard on "Arabesque". This dark, brooding tune revels in a middle-eastern mode that oozes mystique.
Proceedings take an upbeat turn with "Lose Your Delusions", a tale of egotism gone sour married to an irresistible stomp. And "Pantomime" closes Double Diamond, gradually building from a low-key acoustic opening to the spirited electric release of a finale that caps the album beautifully.
Steer’s willingness to traverse endless sonic landscapes on Double Diamond will come as no surprise to anyone who has been aware of his remarkable, two-decades-plus career as a professional musician. He first hit the limelight in 1987 as the teenage guitarist with one of the most extreme British bands ever – Napalm Death – before forming an arguably even more uncompromising act with grindcore pioneers Carcass.
By the late nineties he was ready to explore other areas of rock and metal with Firebird, equally riff-driven yet rooted in traditional songwriting. On board from the start was Ludwig Witt, a phenomenal drummer who first came to prominence with Spiritual Beggars. The results sounded totally fresh: a classic hard rock formula for the new century that delighted fans and critics alike. Expect nothing less from Double Diamond, a piledriving statement that stands as the band's most compelling to date.
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