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Fire and Tears is the first self-titled song of the debut album Rise Again by the French heavy metal project. The moment one begins to hear the riff, the feeling is that of being pulled into the core of a forgotten forge where steel is melting and forming shapes. It is something touching deep inside; the unrefined energy that runs through your body, causing your heartbeat to accelerate as well as you are a part of the story developing. The vocals are powerful and poignant stirring goosebumps in advance of buried battles and victory in your own right.
The opening melody bursts in with orchestral flourish, four layers layering over each other, creating a sense of awe-inspiring sights, one where your personal concerns are caught by the wind and carried away. I recall hitting the play button and getting that buzz, that reliving of the reasons metal excites me so much- the rumbling, earth-rattling riffs, the guitar solos that wind and fly with irresistible phrasing, all supported by a rhythm section that feels as strong as fortress walls yet able to drive the bands ability to wade forward without stopping.
The production is excellent, a mixing of the raw staining that still dominates the genre with a more contemporary, clean sound that still maintains traditional integrity. The atmosphere is all engulfing as it makes one feel as though you are in a realm of medieval conflicts, and heroic crusades with the elements of resilience, fantasy and romanticism clashing at one point through a struggle which is both grand and yet deeply intimate at the same time. It is not only listening but it is a story to be remembered, a basis of stories yet to be told.
It is a light to those who are attracted by the narrative flairs of Iron Maiden or the gothic stylings of Within Temtation. It rekindles that flame towards the unrelenting spirit of the metal, and drives a person to be filled with exhilaration, contemplation and the longing: More of this kind, more of this sensibility.
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