Firewind - Stand United (2024)

From the mind of guitarist extraordinaire Gus G, today we have Firewind’s latest effort “Stand United”. Delivering ten tracks and over 43 minutes of superbly crafted music, this release is the perfect fix of Heavy/Power Metal for genre purists and those who enjoy some hard-hitting Metal tunes to grab some beers and party the night away.

Opening with the blistering “Salvation Day”, we get a pretty good intro to the band’s high-octane sound, perfectly balancing soaring vocal melodies alongside guitar wizardry and extreme catchiness. One of the best features of this band is that while Gus G is an insane guitarist, the music is actually quite balanced and never abuses his skills, but they rather work excellently in unison with all other instruments, as tracks like “Stand United”, “Destiny is Calling”, and “The Power Lies Within” showcase.

As our favorite track, “Come Undone” has that edge of masterfully balancing sick melodies with moody vocals and that epic Power/Heavy Metal vibe that old-school bands always brought to the table. With the band ripping through epic tracks like the UDO-esque “Fallen Angel”, “Chains”, and the rifftastic “Land of Chaos”, we find ourselves headbanging uncontrollably at times.

Having been through different stages with other excellent vocalists, Herbie Langhans fits very well with the band’s style and delivers an excellent performance. Overall, “Stand United” is definitely one of the best releases from the band, and will surely please any fan of the genre. For those that have never heard of the band, you do not know what you are missing out on.

Label: AFM Records

Release: March 1st, 2024

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Country: International