Группа была образована в 1998 году греческим гитаристом-виртуозом Гасом
Джи (наст. имя - Костас Карамитроудис) с несколькими из его друзей из
музыкальной тусовки в США. После записи демо «Nocturnal Symphony»
группа была подписана на Leviathan Records, но Гас увлекся другими
своими проектами - Dream Evil и Mystic Prophecy.
Записав альбомы с другими своими группами, Гас вернулся к проекту
Firewind, от оригинального состава которого остался толкьо он сам.
Leviathan Records предоставили Гасу вокалиста Стефена Фредрика и
ударника Брайана Харриса, а сам Гас нашел на роль басиста своего
соотечественника Константина (Костас Эксархакис). В этом составе и был
записан дебютный альбом «Between Heaven and Hell».
В 2003 состав поменялся - свое место заняли новый ударник Стиан
Кристофферсен и басист (снова грек) Петрос Кристо (наст. имя - Петрсо
Кристодойлидис). В таком составе был записан новый альбом «Burning
Earth». Правда, уже перед турне по раскрутке нового альбома группа
рассталась с вокалистом Стефеном Фредриком. На его место был принят
Читраль Сомапала. Также в турне с группой ездил клавишник Боб
Катсионис. К концу 2003-го Firewind подписали контракт с Century Media
Records.
В 2005 был записан альбом «Forged by Fire», после выпуска которого
группу покинул вокалист Сомпала. Как только ему была найдена замена в
лице Аполло Папатанасио, группу покинул ударник Кристофферсен, место
которого занял ветеран Марк Кросс. Таким образом, за исключением
Кросса, группа состояла из греков, чего и хотел Гас для прочного
оседания в Греции. К этому времени он полностью сосредоточился на
Firewind, покинув остальные свои группы - Nightrage, Dream Evil и
Mystic Prophecy.
В новом составе группа записала альбом «Allegiance», с которым и отправилась в турне.
источник
В новом составе группа записала альбом Allegiance (2006 год), с которым и отправилась в турне. Allegiance в течение шести недель находился в топ-10 и топ-20 в Греции.
Два года спустя на Century Media Records вышел альбом The Premonition, записанный в Швеции с продюсером Фредериком Нордстемом.
В мае 2009 году Firewind, вместе с группами Stratovarius и Eden’s Curse, дали несколько концертов в Великобритании и Ирландии. После чего отыграли на фестивалях, среди которых были «Metal Dayz» в Швейцарии, «Rock Hard» в Германии), «Graspop» в Бельгии и «Tuska» в Финляндии. За весь год группа дала всего один концерт Греции, Firewind играли вместе со Scorpions и Dokken на фестивале «Creta» на Крите
17 августа 2010 года группа выпустила сингл World On Fire. Он поступил в продажу в интернет-магазинах для платного скачивания. Новый альбом альбом, получивший название Days Of Defiance запланирован к выходу на 6 октября в Северной Америке и 25 октября во всех остальных странах на лейбле Century Media
Firewind is a Greek power metal band that was originally created as a
way for guitarist Gus G. to market his demo album Nocturnal Symphony in
1998. They became a full band over three years later when they recorded
Between Heaven and Hell. The band line-up changed between each album
until the final change after their fourth, Forged by Fire, at which
point they settled on the current line-up with which they have recorded
all their material to date.
History
The band began in 1998 when the young Greek Gus G. decided to
record a demo with some close musician friends in the United States.
The project was entitled Firewind, and was used as a showcase for Gus'
guitar skills in an attempt to earn a professional recording deal.[1]
The demo attracted the attention of Leviathan Records, but activity was
put on hold when Gus was hired by Dream Evil and Mystic Prophecy.
After the release of his other bands' debut albums, Gus'
attention returned to the Firewind project. Only he remained from the
original formation - Leviathan owner David T. Chastain brought in
vocalist Stephen Fredrick and drummer Brian Harris (both ex-Kenziner),
while Gus enlisted the help of bassist Konstantine, a fellow Greek.
this line-up recorded the debut album Between Heaven and Hell.
In 2003, new changes were instituted as Norwegian drummer Stian
Kristoffersen and Greek bassist Petros Christo joined the band. Harris
and Konstantine had been replaced as Gus was looking for a more
permanent rhythm section that was prepared to tour. This line-up
recorded Burning Earth and went on a tour of Japan with Rob Rock, but
without vocalist Stephen Fredrick, who was not prepared to go on the
road (despite prior guarantees to the contrary). His replacement on the
Burning the Earth Tour, the Sri Lankan singer Chitral 'Chity' Somapala,
was given the job full-time. Fellow touring member Bob Katsionis was
also hired permanently to play keyboards. Firewind got a worldwide deal
with Century Media by the end of that year.
This line-up recorded the album Forged By Fire, but a few
months after the release, Chitral left due to personal and musical
differences with the rest of the band. When his replacement, Apollo
Papathanasio of Time Requiem, was found, it was also announced that
Stian Kristoffersen would be leaving, to be replaced with the veteran
Mark Cross. The reason for the split was that Gus wanted to have a set
of Greek-based musicians willing to make Firewind their number one
priority (probably to end the virtual revolving door of members) and
Stian's main band was the Norwegian outfit Pagan's Mind. Gus also left
his roles in Dream Evil, Mystic Prophecy and Nightrage between 2004 and
2006. This new line-up recorded the album Allegiance, which was
released in July 2006. During November - December 2006, they toured the
UK supporting DragonForce with All That Remains.
Current schedule
At their October 2007 show at ProgPower USA, Firewind will be
briefly uniting with former vocalist Stephen Fredrick for a few songs
off the first two albums.
Firewind accomplished their 2006/2007 world tour in Copenhagen
at the Scandinavian Prog Power festival on November 10. The band went
around the globe almost twice being on three continents including Asia,
Africa, the US, Canada and Europe and played nearly 100 shows. Firewind
recently recorded a new album in Sweden which was released in spring
2008. The album is titled "The Premonition".
Also the band recently announced their first European Tour
dates with Kamelot and Visions of Atlantis to start in London, England
on April 4. However Visions of Atlantis have recently pulled out of the
tour due to changes in their lineup. They were replaced by Forever
Slave. They also announced that, in May, they will be touring with Arch
Enemy. Gus G has said they are planning for a headline tour of Europe
in September 2008.
Состав группы: Apollo Papathanasio – вокал Gus G – гитара Bob Katsionis – клавишные Petros Christo – бас Mark Cross – ударные
Трэклист:
01-Into The Fire 02-Head Up High 03-Mercenary Man 04-Angels Forgive Me 05-Remembered 06-My Loneliness 07-Circle Of Life 08-The Silent Code 09-Maniac 10-Life Foreclosed
+
Allegiance
Год: 2006 Стиль: Power/Speed Metal
Трэклист: 1. Allegiance 04:41 2. Insanity 04:29 3. Falling to Pieces 04:03 4. Ready to Strike 04:35 5. Breaking the Silence 04:03 6. Deliverance 06:07 7. Till the End of Time 04:36 8. Dreamchaser 04:07 9. Before the Storm 03:42 10. The Essence 04:19 11. Where Do We Go From Here? 03:57
Total playing time 48:39
Line-up: Apollo Papathanasio - Vocals (ex-Time Requiem, ex-Meduza, Gardenian, Majestic, Evil Masquerade, Sandalinas) Gus G - Guitars (ex-Dream Evil, ex-Mystic Prophecy, ex-Nightrage, ex-Arch Enemy (live in 2005)) Bob Katsionis - Keyboards (Nightfall (Grc), Imaginery, Overlord's Perpetual, Casus Belli (Grc), Star Queen, Skyward (Grc), Septic Flesh, Fatal Morgana, Zion (Grc), Mirage (Grc), Encomium (Grc)) Petros Christo - Bass (Breaking Silence) Mark Cross - Drums (Helloween, Metalium (Ger), Winters Bane, At Vance, Nightfall (Grc), God's Army, The Supremacy, Casus Belli (Grc) (guest))
Guest: Tara Teresa - Vocals on track 5
Forged By Fire
Год: 2005 Стиль: Power/Speed Metal
Состав группы:
Трэклист: 1. Kill to Live 03:41 2. Beware the Beast 04:22 3. Tyranny 03:30 4. The Forgotten Memory 03:42 5. Hateworld Hero 05:50 6. Escape From Tomorrow 03:57 7. Feast of the Savages 04:25 8. Burn in Hell 04:37 9. Perished in Flames 04:51 10. The Land of Eternity 05:54
Состав группы: Stephen Fredrick - Vocals (Kenziner, Spike, Kinrick) Gus G - Guitars & Keys (ex-Dream Evil, ex-Mystic Prophecy, ex-Nightrage, ex-Arch Enemy (live in 2005)) Konstantine - Bass (Medieval Death) Brian Harris -Drums (Decay (US), Foul Stench, Kenziner, session drums for Michael Harris, Seven Seraphim, The Reefer Hut, Vainglory, Zanister)
Трэклист: 1. Between Heaven and Hell 04:49 2. Warrior 04:41 3. World of Conflict 04:01 4. Destination Forever 03:42 5. Oceans 01:47 6. Tomorrow Can Wait 05:37 7. Pictured Life 03:33 8. Firewind Raging 04:23 9. I Will Fight Alone 05:06 10. Northern Sky 04:47 11. Fire 04:36 12. Who Am I? 05:16
