BROTHER FIRETRIBE – Diamond In The Firepit (2014)

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We had to wait no less the 5 years for a new BROTHER FIRETRIBE album, but now finally the new opus from these Finnish Melodic Rock wonders – entitled “Diamond In The Firepit” – is here to delight our ears.
Some say that a diamond can be made to sparkle even brighter by placing it into a fire pit for a while. Well, seems Brother Firetribe have spent all these years in the proverbial fire pit, because now they’ve returned with some awesomely shiny tunes.

“Diamond In The Firepit” is Brother Firetribe’s 3rd full length album, once again chock-full with Melodic Rock ear candy; an unbroken string of 11 hits with glistening choruses, heavenly harmonies and a bright glossy production.
Sure enough, this CD will be the soundtrack of the coming summer like its predecessors, for in times like these when the reality bites, the economy is down, people feel downtrodden and everyday life seems like a grind, we all need a shot of positive energy and a reminder that there’s not a whole lot that can’t be fixed with a smile and a song.

Eventhough there has been a long period since the last record, “Diamond In The Firepit” feels like a logical continuation of the band’s journey. Perhaps even more polished than before but at the same time with more biting guitars, this new album feels more fluid and mature. Let’s just say the band have grown.
Yes, the keyboards are always creating a tuneful base on all the songs, but the six-string riffs define a certain edge that makes Brother Firetibe so unique. And the vocals; the terrific the leads but also the harmony / choruses galore.
Brother Firetibe indeed feels much more complete on “Diamond In The Firepit”, like a mix between the good old Bad English and the earlier Treat, a winning combination for me.

“For Better Or For Worse” is the first single and contains some great guitar work, from the lead intro through to the heavier riffs in the main part of the song, this is a masterclass in Melodic Rock / AOR songwriting. Mix in the soaring keyboards and strong vocals and this is a superb track.

“Desperately” by the very nature of the track title should be a ballad, and it is, the vocals are sung a little deeper, leaving the backing vocals to tie in with the track, another song that can be added to the list marked ‘Great AOR ballads’. “Edge Of Forever” just oozes class from every pore while “Hanging by a Thread” has so many layered backing vocals that you think there’s a choir in there somewhere.
It is very hard to find a weak track on this release as they are all great, so I will pick a song that really stood out for me on this: the cover of Giorgio Moroder’s (made famous by Sammy Hagar) “Winner Takes It All”. Epic song and epic performance as you can get.

Brother Firetibe’s “Diamond In The Firepit” is an absolutely superb album and one that all Melodic Rock / AOR fans should definitely own.
Together with the new Alien, H.E.A.T and SunStrike releases, this CD is among the best from the genre you’ll hear this year.
Mandatory Purchase.

01 – Intro
02 – Love Is Not Enough
03 – Far Away From Love
04 – For Better Or For Worse
05 – Desperately
06 – Edge Of Forever
07 – Hanging By A Thread
08 – Trail Of Tears
09 – Winner Takes It All
10 – Tired Of Dreaming
11 – Reality Bites
12 – Close To The Bone

Pekka Ansio Heino – Vocals
Emppu Vuorinen – Guitars
Jason Flinck – Bass, Backing Vocals
Tomi Nikulainen – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Kalle Torniainen – Drums

Pre-Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Diamond-Firepit-Brother-Firetribe/dp/B00J496O0I
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