Apoch's Metal Review - 3 Inches of Blood: Fire Up the Blades CD Review

Discography	Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed.
Full-Length(s):	Battlecry Under a Wintersun (2002) • Advance and Vanquish (2004) • Fire Up the Blades (2007) • Here Waits Thy Doom (2009)
EP(s):	Secret of the White Worm (2001) • Trial of Champions (2009)
CD Single(s):	Destroy the Orcs (2003) • Ride Darkhorse Rise (2003)

Review

The latest offering from 3 Inches Of Blood, entitled Fire Up The Blades is here. Since the band has established a larger fan base thanks to their major label debut album, it's clear that this release had some star treatment.

Some may stop and think twice about the album once they find out that it was produced by Slipknot band member Joey Jordison, so let's quell this fear right now. Fire Up The Blades is definitely not a Slipknot recording. The production quality is great, and perhaps the best recorded album from this band to date.

Musically, the album is insane. It's built on old school heavy metal riffs and drum work. One thing that can be noted is that this release is a rather serious one, almost like that of their Battlecry Under A Winter Sun release. The songs are definitely tighter, and cuts like "Night Marauders", "The Goatrider's Horde" and "Infinite Legions" will get your blood pumping. You won't hear "fun" songs like "Destroy The Orcs" or "Wykydtron" on this release, which is a little sad since some of those types of songs were the ones that stand out for the band. The closest song to anything like those two aforementioned songs would be "Trial Of The Champions" due to the riffs and backing keyboards for the chorus.

There are a few songs on here that may get a little boring over time. "God Of The Cold White Silence" isn't really anything impressive, seeming rather tame compared to some of the other songs on the release. "Demons Blade" is another one that will probably grow old after you hear it a few times. But one song that won't grow old, but may leave you feeling indifferent towards it would be the song "The Great Hall Of Feasting", which is a much lighter song with an upbeat tempo which was more then likely used to symbolize a victory in war due to the concept of a feast.

So, perhaps the band has taken the comments of them being a joke project seriously. If that's why this is a more serious album, then hey, whatever. The band pulled out another amazing album that only suffers from a few somewhat bland songs that should have been replaced with some rather fun tracks like they have done on previous efforts, and also could have benefited with some solos. Other then that, this is a release that will just keep screaming in your face, and kicking you in the balls. It's metal, pure and simple.

Physical review copy of this release provided by:
Personal funds.

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