Ross The Boss – Born Of Fire (AFM)

ROSS THE BOSS

Born Of Fire (CD)

AFM

Guitarist Ross Friedman, aka Ross The Boss, is best known as a founder member of legendary punk band The Dictators as well as heavy metal band Manowar. With countless other albums to his name, he has found time to record his fourth solo album. And here the fourpiece are completed by Marc Lopes, bassist Mike Lepond and drummer Steve Bolognese.

As you pick up the CD, the fantasy cover artwork would definitely inspire power metal images, somewhere between Manowar and Rhapsody, yet the first track hits you square between the eyes in more punk frantic metal crossover fashion. Once the brain settles to the sonic attack, there’s a good classic uptempo metal mixed with a punk tinge that just makes it all more metal.

This is really a solid metal album, I think the lack of Manowar’s pomp is what makes it seem a bit more punk than perhaps it is. Elements of thrash come into Fight The Fight, with some serious riffage and some solos too. There’s growls and screams, and a feel that carries the lyrics, of sword and sorcery. 

There’s some nods to more classic power metal meets thrash in tracks like Maiden Of Shadows, it has a genuine epic feel, and an album stand out is the blistering guitar solo in I Am The Sword. The title track kicks off in similar fashion but moves in more melodic power metal direction. Symphonic? Not quite, but a nod, as are the touches of Metallica and Anthrax, even Thin Lizzy with a twin guitar front in places. And a touch of Sabbath with piano in The Blackest Heart. So basically think a blistering Manowar with the pomp replaced by punk. 

This is an album that really is born of fire, and one of the heaviest albums Ross has put out; he’s really Bossed it here. 7.7/10

Joe Geesin