Bonfire: Fistful Of Fire (AFM, 2020)

Long-running German rockers Bonfire are back with a new album, their 19th studio album overall, titled Fistful Of Fire. It’s their third album with vocalist Alexx Stahl (Roxxcalibur) and first with new drummer Andre Hilgers (Silent Force). Like Stahl’s other albums with the band (especially 2018’s excellent Temple Of Lies), Fistful Of Fire is another highly metallic Bonfire album.

Founding guitarist Hans Ziller continues to be the driving force in the new Bonfire sound, and he noted the band’s recent tour supporting Judas Priest as helping to inspire this new album. It definitely shows. They have a vocalist with a heavy metal background (seriously, go check out Viron if you haven’t already), and a newfound energy for harder-edged rock, and they’re making the most of that. Fistful Of Fire has a great metallic punch, while not entirely abandoning the band’s melodic rock roots. Songs like “When An Old Man Cries” and “Warrior” probably get closest to that Fireworks sound, while “Ride The Blade,” “Breaking Out” and the title track are the best examples of the newer, heavier Bonfire sound.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been excited about a new Bonfire album, let alone eagerly anticipated one. Since Temple Of Lies, I’ve become a Bonfire fan again, and I’m happy to say Fistful Of Fire has kept that energy alive. The band hasn’t sounded this electric in ages, and the result is a melodic hard rock album that will satisfy Bonfire fans as well as draw in fans of bands like Evidence One, Pretty Maids, Jorn and Jaded Heart.