The Greek rock gods deliver a strong, focused album.

Guitar whizz Gus G’s extracurricular activities touring as Ozzy’s guitarist have had a good effect on his main squeeze Firewind. This might be their seventh record but they’re still creating highly combustible metal. The Greek rock gods deliver a strong, focused album that puts them head and shoulder-length hair above many of their power metal peers.

Mostly written by Gus G on downtime while still on tour with Ozzy, the songs (as we’ve come to expect from the band) have the thunderous grooving riffs and flame throwing solos that’ll singe your eyebrows off. What sets Firewind apart from lesser acts is two fold; Gus G’s guitar shenanigans are the first pull as he channels the fretboard pyrotechnics into lean songs that carry no excess fat, no solo outstays its welcome. Secondly they have Apollo Papathanasio. The underrated singer has the power not to be overshadowed by the heavy grooves, and he gives the songs enough melody to make them as catchy as a radio jingle.

Opener and first single ‘Wall Of Sound’ is a prime example of this, and is a good indication of what Firewind are all about in 2012. There are plenty more hard rocking highlights though. There’s the chugging tour de force of ‘Losing My Mind’, the light and dark of ‘The Undying Fire’ and the uber-catchy ‘Destiny’ which makes you want to jump up and down from one foot to the other as if on hot coals. ‘Glorious’ also has a hook-laden chorus that many melodic rock bands couldn’t emulate. New drummer Jo Nunez proves he’s got the engine needed to drive the songs, especially on the title track. The ballad ‘Edge Of A Dream’ shows that Gus knows when to pull back as well as slam dunk. The track is given extra depth by a guest appearance from Apocolyptica adding strings.

The album is heavy and vigorous enough to be current but its love of the classic metal bands is palpable, making it accessible for the old guard too. It’s been a good year for Metal with great albums from Primal Fear, Accept and now Firewind. Do your bit to help out the ailing Greek economy and buy ‘Few Against Many’.

Duncan Jamieson