Firewind

Allegiance

[3/5] Upon its initial overseas release last year, Allegiance stormed the charts in Firewind’s home nation of Greece, reaching No. 10 and spending six weeks in the Top 20. However, despite the album’s major selling point (this is Gus G. from Arch Enemy’s main project) and that it is a solid effort, that sort of success will not be replicated in the United States. Allegiance is slickly over-produced and inarguably European-sounding, with ubiquitous keyboards and references to classic hard rock peppering their power/speed-metal style. Trouble is-in terms of U.S. sales-Firewind possess none of the flash-and-dash or over-the-top-itude that make Children Of Bodom and DragonForce popular with jaded Yanks. But know that while Allegiance is being relegated to cult status on these shores, octane burners and shred ballads like “Dreamchaser” and “Before The Storm” are blowing the roofs off soccer stadiums in Athens and Corfu. (CENTURY MEDIA) Kevin Stewart-Panko