SYRENCE – Freedom in Fire
- Posted on 25-01-2019
Syrence offer pure, no-frills heavy metal with power and bombast to it and it seems to incorporate influences from Dio, Judas Priest, early Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath (the Dio and Tony Martin eras), and even Thin Lizzy and Rainbow at their most aggressive. In fact, this 12-track album of theirs very often brings to mind one of my all-time favorite records, more specifically "Sin After Sin" by the aforementioned Judas Priest. Anyway, Syrence revel in catchy riffs, memorable choruses, and strong vocals that cover a lot of ground. I especially dig the fact that these skilled German dudes know how to infuse their song material with diversity and enthusiasm so that "Freedom in Fire" ultimately comes across as a musically exciting and confident output.
Despite its lack of originality, one cannot deny the quality of such well-written tunes as "Living on the Run", "Symphony", "Your War", and "Addicted" due to their majestic riffs, hard-hitting drums, and excellent vocal lines. The latter in particular stands out as a huge highlight of the disc. This is inspired stuff for sure and the musicianship and production leave very little to be desired. If you want challenging music and experimentation, you need to look elsewhere, but if charming heavy metal with loads of atmosphere to it is your thing then Syrence is the band for you. Definitely recommended.