SPIRITS OF FIRE – Embrace The Unknown

Embrace The Unknown is the new release from Spirits Of Fire. This is the second album produced by this all-star lineup that was founded in July 2017. Their self-titled debut album (2019) had Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals but he was replaced on their new release Embrace The Unknown. Fabio Lione is a veteran Italian singer (Angra, Rhapsody Of Fire) who now takes on the lead vocals. Spirits Of Fire has also changed it up from the American producer Roy Z to Aldo Lonobile who is a Italian producer and friend of Fabio Lione who produced this new album. The original returning veterans are guitarist Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Testament) and drummer Mark Zonder (War Lord, Fates Warning).

Embrace The Unknown has a story to tell in this journey of Classic Metal music, so let’s get to the music. It all starts off with “A Second Chance,” diving into “Resurrection,” and the “Wildest Dreams.” These songs set the bar high with great promise of what’s to come on the rest of the album with that great Heavy Metal sound. Moving on down the playlist to “Into The Mirror” and the title track “Embrace The Unknown,” they keep the Hard Rock flowing into our heads with great guitar work and vocals.

We are now entering the middle of the album with tracks “My Confession,” “Sea Of Change,” “Shapes Of A Fragile Mind,” and “Hearts in The Sand,” which absolutely rock and is some of the best material on the album. The whole band seems to be rockin on all cylinders at this point.  This beast of an album keeps up the momentum with the middle of the album with the song “House Of Pain,” before we drop down to get a balladry tone on the last two songs “Remember My Name” and “Out Of the Rain.”

The overall album is a little long at 1 hour 5 minutes but you are getting a lot of well-made music by some outstanding musicians. There is also areas on the album where the vocals seem muddled and not continuing to carry the singers notes. Is the first self-titled album Spirits Of Fire better then the new release Embrace The Unknown? Well, that is for all the fans and listeners to decide. Overall, they have done a fantastic job working together in these times of uncertainty amid covid and the virus that is around us. They would be a great band to see live, so go out and get yourself the new album released by Frontiers Records and rock on.