Artist: FIREWIND
Album: ALLEGIANCE (CD)

Release date: 2006
Media type: CD

FIREWIND is a Heavy Metal band mentored by Greek guitarist Gus G. (a.k.a. Kostas Karamitroudis). G had earlier carved his name on albums by acts such as MYSTIC PROPHECY, NIGHTRAGE and DREAM EVIL. Debut product came in 1999 with the self-financed album 'Nocturnal Symphony' seeing REIGN OF TERROR's Brandon Pender on vocals and Mike Scurfield on the drums.

FIREWIND delivered the 'Between Heaven And Hell' album in June 2002, this session including erstwhile KENZINER members vocalist Stephen Frederick and drummer Brian Harris. Frederick also holds credits with Cincinnati's SPIKE and BILLY THE KID whilst Harris cites prior membership of VAINGLORY, ZANISTER and MY OWN VICTIM. 'Between Heaven And Hell', produced by DAVID CHASTAIN, was mixed in Sweden by the esteemed figure of Fredrik Nordstrom. Released by Chastain's Leviathan label in North America the record would see global release via Toshiba EMI in Japan, Massacre Records in Germany and Rock Brigade in Brazil. FIREWIND's November 2003 follow up 'Burning Earth', once again seeing production credits going to DAVID CHASTAIN, saw Stephen Frederick and Gus. G. enrolling an all new rhythm section of former BREAKING SILENCE bassist Petros Christo, hailing from Thessaloniki, Greece, with the talents of Stian L. Kristoffersen from Norwegian act PAGAN'S MIND on the drums. Japanese variants, released via the Toshiba-EMI label, added the exclusive instrumental track 'Still The Winds'.

The band would promote the record with a short burst of Japanese shows in January of 2004 supported by ROB ROCK'S RAGE OF CREATION. Gus G. had earlier taken a guest guitar spot on Rock's 'Eyes Of Eternity' album. However, Stephen Frederick was forced to pull out of these gigs, citing "pressing personal reasons", and FIREWIND pulled in the AVALON, MOONLIGHT AGONY and FARO credited Chity Somapala as substitute. Gus G. donated a guest guitar solo to HAMMERFALL vocalist Joacim Cans solo album, featuring on the CANS title track 'Beyond The Gates' and also donated guitar parts to Japanese avant-garde Metal act SIGH's controversial 'Gallows Gallery' album.

Meantime, ex-frontman Stephen Fredrick cut a new album with an all new band unit dubbed KINRICK. Working once again with producer DAVID T. CHASTAIN the band comprised VAINGLORY guitarist Corbin King, ZANISTER bassist James Martin and drummer Stian Kristoffersen of PAGAN'S MIND and FIREWIND.

Recordings for a new FIREWIND album saw former MEGADETH guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN and the TESTAMENT, DEATH and CANCER credited credited JAMES MURPHY contributing guest solos. With a working title of 'Forged By Fire' the record, with Chity Somapala on lead vocals, was mixed by Fredrik Nordstrom at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In September of 2004, after contributing to the album 'The Book Of Heavy Metal', Gus G. left the DREAM EVIL ranks in order to focus his attention on FIREWIND. European and Scandinavian gigs in April of 2005, dubbed the 'Icebreaker' tour, would see FIREWIND joining a package billing comprising HAMMERFALL, THUNDERSTONE and Finnish "Monster Metal" band LORDI. The band announced UK supports to YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in the Summer but would be forced to withdraw when Chity Somapala's visa application was rejected. As it transpired, Somapala officially left FIREWIND due to "personal reasons" in June, forcing the band's cancellation of a scheduled appearance at the 'Fabric Festival' in Trier. Meantime, the 2004 opus 'Forged By Fire' finally received a US release in July through Magick Records.

Gus G. joined ARCH ENEMY in mid 2005 as the group's touring guitarist after regular six-stringer Christopher Amott bowed out of that band in order to "fully concentrate on his studies". FIREWIND pulled in new band members in November, ex-MAJESTIC, MEDUZA, GARDENIAN and FAITH TABOO, SANDALINAS and TIME REQUIEM man Apollo Papathanasio on vocals and the veteran figure of Mark Cross on drums. The British born drummer held prior credentials with outfits such as KINGDOM COME, METALIUM, HELLOWEEN, VALANOS, AT VANCE, WINTER'S BANE, THE SUPREMACY and GOD'S ARMY and had formatively garnered a cosmopolitan range of credits across the Greek Rock field with acts SCRAPTOWN, MAGNA CARTA and SPITFIRE, occult Metal band NIGHTFALL.

FIREWIND began recording of a new album at GM Recordings in Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordstrom in February 2006. Ex-singer Chity Somapala re-emerged that same month with his new project RED CIRCUIT, co-instigated by ex-SHEELA man Markus Teske, for the album 'Trance State'.

In March 2006 Somapala announced the formation of a new "atmospheric, bone-crushing power metal" band called CIVILIZATION ONE. Here he would be joined by an international roster of players comprising guitarist Aldo Lanobile of SECRET SPHERE, bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pelisson of HEAVENLY and MALADAPTIVE, the SHADRANE and LALU credited Vivian Lalu on keyboards plus Luca Cartasegna, from MORTUARY DRAPE and SECRET SPHERE on drums. That same month Gus G relinquished his post in NIGHTRAGE in order to fully prioritise FIREWIND.

The 2006 FIREWIND album, 'Allegiance', was launched through Century Media Records in July, impressively hitting the national Greek charts at number 11. A preceding single, 'Falling To Pieces' backed by a Patric Ullaeus directed promotional video, added a cover version of BLACKFOOT's 'Teenage Idol'. October and November European dates had the band supporting DRAGONFORCE.

TRACKLIST:

1. Allegiance
2. Insanity
3. Falling To Pieces
4. Ready To Strike
5. Breaking The Silence
6. Deliverance
7. Till The End Of Time
8. Dreamchaser
9. Before The Storm
10. The Essence
11. Where Do We Go From Here?

LINE-UP:

Stephen Frederick (vocals)
Gus G. (guitar)
Konstantine (bass)
Brian Harris (drums)