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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Bonfire - Double X + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Apr-02-2016 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Hard Rock Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2006 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........13 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.bonfire.de ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Bonfire Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Double X Label : LZ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Here's a band that I seriously lost faith in ║ │
│║ after their last album, Free. I had stop ║ │
│║ following the band to the point where I had no ║ │
│║ idea they were about to release a new album. ║ │
│║ Luckily, Double X has found its way to my CD ║ │
│║ player. Critically panned by the press and ║ │
│║ almost universally despised by fans, Bonfire's ║ │
│║ career was pretty much on the scrap heap after ║ │
│║ the release of Free. At the time that I wrote my ║ │
│║ scathing review of Free, there was no doubt in ║ │
│║ my mind that nothing short of a fantastic return ║ │
│║ to their melodic hard rock greatness on their ║ │
│║ next album would be ║ │
│║ needed to reestablish themselves as a relevant ║ │
│║ hard rock band. Another album like Free would ║ │
│║ almost certainly be the nail in the coffin for ║ │
│║ Bonfire. Luckily for Bonfire fans, it appears ║ │
│║ that Free will go down as the bastard child crap ║ │
│║ album of Bonfire's discography that we will ║ │
│║ simply forget about. The new album, Double X ║ │
│║ isn't exactly a masterpiece, nor is it even the ║ │
│║ band's best album. However, it is a decisive ║ │
│║ return to the melodic hard rock sound that put ║ │
│║ Bonfire on the map 20+ years ago, and kept fans ║ │
│║ gobbling up their albums for the past 2 decades. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The album starts with a heavy riff driven ║ │
│║ rocker, Day 9-11. It's a definitive statement ║ │
│║ that Bonfire is back on track, and back to their ║ │
│║ roots of writing classy melodic hard rock. This ║ │
│║ is as about as heavy as you'll ever hear ║ │
│║ Bonfire, particularly with the riffing. However, ║ │
│║ the chorus, one of Bonfire's most important ║ │
│║ ingredients over the years is just OK here. The ║ │
│║ guys continue to rock with But We Still Rock, ║ │
│║ Cry For Help, Bet Your Bottom Dollar, and What's ║ │
│║ On Your Mind. Cry For Help is the more relaxed ║ │
│║ of the bunch, with some acoustic guitar mixed ║ │
│║ in. However, the chorus line here is big and ║ │
│║ memorable, just like Bonfire fans have become ║ │
│║ accustomed to. But We Still Rock is catchy tune, ║ │
│║ but again, the chorus line is just so-so. Bet ║ │
│║ Your Bottom Dollar is another heavy riff driven ║ │
│║ track much like the opener, but Bonfire really ║ │
│║ sacrifices their trademark catchiness in favor ║ │
│║ of heaviness here. I like the heaviness a lot, ║ │
│║ but Bonfire fans who are sicklers for the ultra ║ │
│║ catchy choruses and hooks might be put off here. ║ │
│║ What's On Your Mind brings things back down to a ║ │
│║ more mid tempo hard rock level. The chorus line ║ │
│║ here has a big impact, and the guitar work is ║ │
│║ excellent, even if they're not as heavy as ║ │
│║ something like Bet Your Bottom Dollar. This ║ │
│║ track really reminds me of the Fireworks / Point ║ │
│║ Blank heyday of the band. Blink of an Eye is an ║ │
│║ acoustic based ballad with a western vibe ║ │
│║ similar to Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive. ║ │
│║ Although this song is a very good one, and I ║ │
│║ really like the atmosphere, the extended version ║ │
│║ at the end of the album was a little ║ │
│║ unnecessary. Once would have been enough. Make a ║ │
│║ call as to which version is the best, and stick ║ │
│║ with it. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The second half of the album kicks off with the ║ │
│║ sarcastic parody song, Rap is Crap! I guess this ║ │
│║ really isn't a song as much as a spoken rant put ║ │
│║ to guitars and drums. I totally agree with the ║ │
│║ sentiment of the song and the lyrics, but ║ │
│║ musically, it's far from a killer song. Still, ║ │
│║ the lyrics make it worthwhile listen, even the ║ │
│║ rest of the song is largely unspectacular. ║ │
│║ Notion of Love follows up, and it is a ║ │
│║ passionate mid tempo track with a bombshell hook ║ │
│║ and addictive melodies. Here is another trip ║ │
│║ back in time to Bonfire's heyday of classy and ║ │
│║ catchy melodic hard rock at its best. Right ║ │
│║ Things Right is next, and it is another rocker ║ │
│║ that lacks catchiness and big hooks just as much ║ │
│║ as songs like Notion of Love and What's On Your ║ │
│║ Mind mesmerize you with these elements. As a ║ │
│║ result, this is a decent track, but very ║ │
│║ mediocre by Bonfire standards with the lack of ║ │
│║ catchiness to sink your teeth into. Hard to Say ║ │
│║ is another acoustic based mid tempo track that ║ │
│║ reminds me a lot of Kiss' Hard Luck Woman. There ║ │
│║ is a lot of passion here, but a bigger chorus ║ │
│║ would have made this a real killer. Wings to Fly ║ │
│║ is a midtempo rocker that has a good chorus and ║ │
│║ a lot of good guitar work spread throughout. ║ │
│║ While not a classic track, this is one of the ║ │
│║ more emotional and memorable tracks of the ║ │
│║ album. So What? follows, which sees Bonfire ║ │
│║ tread into metal territory. The lyrics are ║ │
│║ somewhat rebellious in nature, and so the ║ │
│║ attitude and energy are appropriate here. As ║ │
│║ with a handful of other spots on the album ║ │
│║ though, there isn't a lot of catchiness to be ║ │
│║ found here. However, the heaviness and "screw ║ │
│║ you" attitude of the track make it winner. As I ║ │
│║ mentioned before, an extended version of Blink ║ │
│║ of an Eye concludes ║ │
│║ the album. Great song, but being included twice ║ │
│║ on the album was totally unnecessary. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ All in all, I'm very encouraged by this release. ║ │
│║ Although Bonfire don't completely go from the ║ │
│║ scrap heap to pulling a classic out of their ║ │
│║ pocket, Double X is solid comeback. It certainly ║ │
│║ gives me hope for the band in the future, ║ │
│║ whereas I had absolutely none after the release ║ │
│║ of Free. This album definitely has its moments ║ │
│║ that hearken back to the glory years of the ║ │
│║ band, but there are a few tracks that just fall ║ │
│║ flat as well. Tracks such as Bet Your Bottom ║ │
│║ Dollar and So What? are amongst a handful that ║ │
│║ feature a riff driven heavier, but less catchy ║ │
│║ approach. ║ │
│║ I like the heavier Bonfire sound, but purist ║ │
│║ fans of the band (which I know there are a lot ║ │
│║ of) will not like the fact that Bonfire ║ │
│║ sacrificed their trademark catchiness in favor ║ │
│║ of heaviness. I must admit that the more mid ║ │
│║ tempo Bonfire songs with the bombshell chorus ║ │
│║ lines and hook are my favorites, and what I ║ │
│║ think the band does best. However, I think the ║ │
│║ heavier tracks come off very well, and I'm sure ║ │
│║ others will appreciate the different approach ║ │
│║ here. Still, I'm glad to say that Bonfire is ║ │
│║ back on the map, and fans that gave up after ║ │
│║ Free should check this album out. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Claus Lessman - vocals, guitar ║ │
│║ Hans Ziller - guitar ║ │
│║ Chris Limburg - guitar ║ │
│║ Uwe Kohler - bass ║ │
│║ Jurgen Wiehler - drums ║ │
│║ Thomas Streck - keyboards ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - day911 [05:43] │
│ 02 - but we still rock [04:07] │
│ 03 - cry for help [04:36] │
│ 04 - bet your bottom dollar [04:31] │
│ 05 - what's on your mind [04:17] │
│ 06 - blink of an eye [06:09] │
│ 07 - rap is crap! [03:49] │
│ 08 - notion of love [03:33] │
│ 09 - right things right [03:55] │
│ 10 - hard to say [03:52] │
│ 11 - wings to flay [04:43] │
│ 12 - so what [04:39] │
│ 13 - blink of an eye (extended version) (bonus) [07:50] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [61:44 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
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