BONFIRE – Point Blank (MMXXIII Version) (2023) *HQ*

Since more than 35 years, BONFIRE are the embodiment of “Melodic Hard ‘n Heavy made in Germany”. September 22, 2023 will see the band reissue their most iconic albums “Point Blank”, “Fireworks” and “Don’t Touch The Light” as MMXXIII / 2023 re-recording versions with an entirely new artwork.
As one of the group’s founding members and its main composer, Hans Ziller came up with an ambitious idea: How would the songs from those now slightly dated releases sound if they were re-recorded in contemporary studio conditions? This concept was particularly exciting because the band’s current line-up. As Ziller comments: “What we wanted to do was to record the songs as if Bonfire had been a metal band in the Eighties!”
Naturally, you need first-rate musicians for this kind of ambitious, re-recording undertaking, and that’s precisely what BONFIRE mark 2023 have: Young Greek singer DYAN has recently joined the BONFIRE fold. The 30-year-old vocalist is a big BONFIRE fan since his teens, so it was easy for him to cut all the 35 songs from the three cult albums in less than two weeks.

Hans Ziller talks about the project: “What we wanted to do was to record the songs as if Bonfire had been a metal band in the eighties!” Bringing a new voice to classic songs is Dyan Mair. Ziller enthuses: “Dyan can simply sing anything, from rock vocals to falsetto. You only have to listen to him to realize that he will excel live.”
As to how true the band stayed to the original recordings, Ziller explains: “Of course, we kept to the original arrangements as much as possible, perhaps slightly changing a riff now and then or updating the sound of a guitar part. But all the essential elements, right down to the lyrics, have remained untouched.”

The songs from “Point Blank” are perhaps which better suit Bonfire’s current sound / line up, and the remakes feel natural, more metallic with dynamics increased but still melodic.
A strong re-recording with a modern punch.
Highly Recommended

01 – Bang Down the Door (MMXXIII Version)
02 – Hard on Me (MMXXIII Version)
03 – Who’s Foolin’ Who (MMXXIII Version)
04 – Why is It Never Enough (MMXXIII Version)
05 – Tony’s Roulette (MMXXIII Version)
06 – You’re Back (MMXXIII Version)
07 – Look of Love (MMXXIII Version)
08 – The Price of Loving You (MMXXIII Version)
09 – Freedom Is My Belief (MMXXIII Version)
10 – Gimme Some (MMXXIII Version)
11 – Say Goodbye (MMXXIII Version)
12 – Never Surrender (MMXXIII Version)
13 – (20th Century) Youth Patrol (MMXXIII Version)
14 – Know Right Now (MMXXIII Version)
15 – Waste No Time (MMXXIII Version)

Pre order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Point-Blank-Mmxxiii-Bonfire/dp/B0C122D72F/