ALBUM REVIEW: Born Of Fire – Ross The Boss

Ross ‘The Boss’ Friedman, the legendary co-founder of MANOWAR and his solo-band are back with a rich and versatile new album Born Of Fire. Friedman has already written musical history as a founding member of MANOWAR and THE DICTATORS and his influence on the metal and punk genres is still tangible to this day. He has been releasing his own brand of epic traditional metal since 2006, calling up memories of the first six MANOWAR records he was involved in between 1982 and 1988, but with his own distinctive twist. Born of Fire is the fourth release from Friedman and his band, arriving not even two years after their 2018 effort By Blood Sworn.

Glory to the Slain kicks off straight away with punchy, kickass aggression that sets up the rest of the record perfectly. There’s no intro to warm you up here; gritty, MOTÖRHEAD-style vocals thunder out immediately, taking you on a wild journey at breakneck speed without catching a breath. I Am the Sword follows suit, foot to the floor, and fires out the same speed and power. Vocals from Marc Lopes are an immaculate fit here, creating the perfect balance of grit and clarity, belting out some epic screams that would make Rob Halford proud. 

Fight the Fight initiates with a groovy intro riff, creating a contrasting sound from the first two fast-paced tracks, but still packing the same brutal punch. The chorus is short and sweet, and you can’t help but imagine hundreds of sweaty long-haired fans punching the air and belting this one out at a gig. With a slightly more subdued intro which is reminiscent of IRON MAIDEN, Shotgun Evolution keeps up the energy whilst offering yet another different sound, showing the versatility of Friedman’s songwriting skills. The guitar and bass tones are rich and full, wholly complementing the vocal melody throughout the verse.

Denied by the Cross thunders out a meaty riff followed by rough, aggressive vocals throughout the verse. Lopes’ shows his talent and versatility here particularly; gruff verses, melodic touches, soaring screams and a powerfully deep chorus make this one of the most outstanding tracks on the album. ROSS THE BOSS are here to remind you that although they bring a fresh and unique sound, they aren’t straying too far from their power metal roots with Maiden of Shadows, a track which creates an epic, orchestral beauty. Fantastical lyrical themes and soft, melodic vocals with some impressive keyboard touches create an altogether magical sound. 

The second half of the album is slightly more subdued, though still with the same strength and fullness. Chugging heavy riffs from the outset and Steve Bolgnese’s thunderous drums smash out the powerful title track of Born of Fire. Demon Holiday again creates that signature traditional heavy metal sound, full of an attitude and flair which is reminiscent of later SAXON records such as Sacrifice. Godkiller continues this power, recalling bands like ACCEPT.

Waking The Moon is a unique track, showing the breadth of talent across such a diverse and complex record. Whether it’s a wolf howl, spoken vocals or the juicy riff sauntering a sexy 70s groove, each part is expertly crafted and blended together. Undying follows this nicely, boasting melodic guitars and vocals with harmonies that are perfectly complementary. The influence of BLACK SABBATH can be heard in The Blackest Heart, a delicate keyboard intro is followed by creeping and intricate guitars with an overall atmosphere of darkness. 

Fans of MANOWAR and previous ROSS THE BOSS albums will certainly not be disappointed with this record. The production on Born of Fire is outstanding, every tiny segment is perfectly balanced and the sound is rich and densely packed whilst not missing any of the detail. Born of Fire has everything you need for a quintessential heavy metal album, with all of the classic ROSS THE BOSS trademarks. Powerful, versatile vocals, thundering instrumentals and a perfectly mixed sound create an album that is strong from start to finish.

Rating: 8/10

Born of Fire is set for release March 6th via AFM Records. 

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