Year: 2024
Total Time: 01.02.59
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Αmidst the barrage of excellent album releases in both the Greek and international Metal scene, 2024 brought us the long-awaited return of Heavy Metallers INNERWISH, who this year are celebrating 30 years of career. After 8 long years and the album “Innerwish”, they return with an amazing album in the subgenre of Heavy and Power Metal.
The album “Ash Of Eternal Flame” lays its virtues through 11 songs (+1 bonus, the cover of BLACKFOOT’s “Send Me An Angel” in physical forms) and over an hour of music. Surely, the first impression counts, so we can’t help but start the review with the amazing cover that is inspired by the myth of Prometheus who stole fire from the Gods to give it to humans and was punished in eternal torture by Zeus. The artwork was created by Giannis Nakos (Remedy Art Design) who has successfully collaborated with many great bands such as KAMELOT, AMARANTH etc. The production by Fotis Benardos and the mixing and mastering by Henrik Udd ensure the best possible sound quality.
If the cover is considered to be the visual depiction of the story of Prometheus, the first song “Forevermore” tells the same story musically with the orchestral parts capturing the greatness of the hero. The next songs do not let the listener relax even a bit since they are the songs that the band chose to release as singles. Surely the most popular song of the album is “Sea Of Lies” featuring Hansi Kurch (BLIND GUARDIAN) who should be given the Greek citizenship in my opinion. In fact, the symbolism of the song is very strong since it is dedicated to all those children who try to cross the Mediterranean Sea in order to find a safe haven and build their lives away from war and poverty. In general, the meanings are deep and tough as in, perhaps, the heaviest song of the album “Soul Asunder” which focuses on the obstacles that we must overcome as humanity. Of course, the necessary ballad “Once Again” is not missing, but also the mid-tempo touches with “Walk Alone” and “Breathe”. The imposing voice of George Eikosipentakis, the guitarists Manolis Tsigos and Thymios Krikos, as well as the other members of the band, demonstrate their ability and the strong bond they have acquired after several years of working together.
INNERWISH with their new album manage to honor their classic Power metal roots but in a modern and fresh way. I believe everybody accepts that they have reached their compositional Everest (until their next album maybe!!), they managed to revitalize a subgenre that seemed to have slowed down the last years and set the high standards for the albums to come.
Rating: 8,5/10
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: INNERWISH – Facebook Page
