Never ones to rest on their laurels, Manchester traditional heavy metallers Absolva have wasted little time in recording album number six, Fire in the Sky, the follow-up to 2020’s solid Side by Side. For those unaware of the band, this is an album that would serve as an excellent entry point to the quartet who formed in 2012. The current line-up has been settled since 2015, comprising founder Chris Appleton (vocals and lead guitar) and martin McNee (drums) alongside bassist Karl Schramm and guitarist Luke Appleton.
Fire in the Sky is as bombastic as ever, with Absolva’s classic heavy metal attitude shining through. But the band have taken a serious approach to several topics including alcohol and drug addiction as well as reflecting on the pandemic and its impact worldwide. There’s an undeniable British feel to the album, with reference to the bulldog spirit that still believe exists.
The album opens in soaring style, with a punchy, almost power metal feel in “Demon Tormentor” which races along at high speed. Chris Appleton’s vocals are crisp and clear, his delivery as honed as some of the razor-sharp lead guitar work that spiral high above. It’s a solid, reliable album opener, full of ion and power, and as you listen it feels like listening to an old friend.
“Burn Inside” has a riff that echoes Iron Maiden’s “Quest for Fire”, which is interesting as that’s clearly a song long before Blaze-era Maiden. [Piece of Mind if you don’t know] but that doesn’t matter as it’s a good quality singalong opportunity and will go down a storm live. It’s followed by the heavier subject matter of “Addiction’ which is another feisty track with some screaming lead work.
Pleasingly, Absolva are once more able to maintain their heaviness whilst adding variation, ample melody and more than the odd change of tempo. “What Does God Know” asks questions in a gentle, semi-ballad style which builds in energy and ion, with enjoyable harmonies and a luscious melody which underpins the whole song. The evolution towards a faster paced final third screams classic metal and who can blame them? It’s a fine track.
Chris Appleton’s production is slick, polished but allows just a little bit of dirt to remain under the fingernails. Nowhere more so than on the thumping title track which has hooks, riffs and a pumping pace that ensures no-one is hanging around. The dual guitar work is on point, the melodies once again work their magic, and the vocals sing in harmony. It’s all very pleasing and enjoyable, a combination of Accept and Scorpions but with a modern UK twist. You can smile when you listen to this purely because of the vibrancy that pulses through the whole album.
The tempo is high throughout the album and as you move into the final third there is no let up. “A Man for all Seasons” is catchy and anthemic, whilst “Galloglaigh” tells the epic tale of the mercenary warriors from the Norse Gaelic clans of Ireland between Mid-13th and late 16th century. It carries a certain Celtic ring to it, drawing on the type of music that Thin Lizzy and, to a certain extent, Black Star Riders made their trademark.
The finalé is a sombre affair with “Historic Year” sharing reflections on the past two years, the frustrations, the pain, and the anger all boiling to the top in a ferocious six-minute gallop. I suspect that this, along with Saxon’s “ the Fallen” are only two of many pandemic themed tracks that will emerge in the next few years. Fire In the Sky concludes with the defiance of “Refuse to Die”, another biopic track that eulogises the return to music and the joy that the band felt accompanying Blaze on his 2021 tour. It’s a fitting conclusion to an album that is a real joy to listen to.
Fire In The Sky is clean with memorable songs that have hooks galore. You find yourself humming this after spending mere minutes with it. Another great album from a fabulous UK band.
Fire In The Sky is out on February 18th
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