Album Review: Ross The Boss - Born Of Fire
Reviewed by Jon Wigg
When you have influenced and were a pioneer in two genres of music, 70's American Punk (The Dictators) and 80's US Power Metal (Manowar), there shouldn’t be too much for you to prove. Ross ‘The Boss’ Friedman returns with an album clearly draped in 80's nostalgia but with a modern feel that blasts the doors off 2020.
It is impossible to deny the Manowar sound is here, present and correct, especially in the more mid-paced tracks such as Fight The Fight and Shotgun Evolution, but the vocals of Marc Lopes (Meliah Rage) really adds some drive and hostility to proceedings. Add the pounding bass of the ever busy Mike LePond (Symphony X) and drums of Steve Bolognese (Death Dealer) and this album rocks hard from start to finish.
Aggressive and abrasive from the off, Glory to the Slain and I Am The Sword are pure high octane thrashers which bang along with Lopes channelling his inner Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth, screams and all. Lopes really drives the songs forward like a runaway truck and the other band members follow him gleefully.
Other more traditional US power metal tracks are here as well, in the form of Maiden Of Shadows, with accompanying keyboards, and Godkiller. Waking the Moon swings along nicely with bass leads and wolf howls and this along with Undying and Demon Holiday all have a real modern Accept vibe.
The album’s final track, The Blackest Heart, slows things right down providing a doomy closing which really made me want to go back to the start and listen to the whole thing again.
The mix is modern and fresh, which allows all the parts to be heard perfectly and great performances they are across the board. This is an excellent album from start to finish with a good mix of thrashers and mid-paced bangers.
Anyone who saw Ross The Boss at Bloodstock in 2019, when the provided one of the highlights of the festival on the main stage, will know what they can do live performing mainly Manowar songs and Judas Priest covers (with KK Downing). With this new material, I would expect their live shows to be a real spectacle.
Long Live Metal! Long Live The Boss!
