Gus G: I Am The Fire

Having built a solid reputation through his work with Arch Enemy and more notably Firewind, the stock of guitarist Gus G is at a premium through his more recent joining with the one and only Ozzy Osbourne; the Greek guitarist helping to create the double O's best album in many a year, Scream. So if ever the time was right for a G-G solo excursion, then surely it's now, with the wonderfully titled I Am The Fire offering the fret master the opportunity to do exactly what we know he can - and a little more.

It would have been more of a surprise if IATF wasn't a fully laden star-studded effort and therefore the appearance of Therion/Yngwie, and too many other acts to mention, frontman Mats Leven on the opening pairing of "My Will Be Done" and "Blame It On Me", is no shock, he and the double G splitting the bull's eye in impressive fashion - this could be Firewind backing Ozzy (now there's an idea...). As all solo albums should, the beaten path is then wandered from through the more contemporary Metal meets Melodic Rock chorus of the title track, where Blake Allison from Devour The Day provides a melodic slice of vocal grit. Then Megadeth-er Dave Ellefson shows up for the first of two instrumentals, "Vengeance", which is shred, shred and a little more shred (and why not if you can - and Gus can!). Billy Sheehan (Mr Big/The Winery Dogs/Dave Lee Roth) bass-ily augmenting the other, "Terrified", which is a slice of shred, shre....you get the idea there then....

The sassy confident vocals of Alexia Rodriguez (Eyes Set To Still) add another different colour to the clean-distorted mix of "Long Way Down", with almost commercial Symphonic results, while "Just Can't Let Go" decides to trample all else on the album through a peerless vocal performance from Mars Electric/Lynam/Adler frontman Jacob Bunton; the easy paced groove laying the perfect foundation for an almost bluesy slice of cool, Ozzy would kill for. Jeff Scott Soto (W.E.T./Talisman) however comes a photo-finish second, his unmistakable voice bringing a Melodic Rock surge to "Summer Days", he and Gus showing how potent this genre can be in the right hands.

Which leaves another two outings from Leven, "Eyes Wide Open" and "End Of The Line", as well as the atmospheric "Dreamkeeper", where Evergrey's Tom S. Englund adds atmosphere by the bucket-load and "Redemption", which sees Michael Starr (from the love 'em or loathe 'em, Steel Panther) provide a vocal that wouldn't shame Rob Halford for ear piercing and gravel scraping diversity.

There's no denying that in terms of style that I Am The Fire is more than a little all over the place. However that seems to be the point and whether through Power Metal posturing, Melodic Rock gloss, Shredding virtuosity, or muscular Blues excursions, there's barely a missed step. On this evidence Gus G is indeed the fire - prepare to be burned.

Track Listing
1. My Will Be Done (feat. Mats Levén)
2. Blame It On Me (feat. Mats Levén)
3. I Am The Fire (feat. Devour The Day)
4. Vengeance (feat. David Ellefson)
5. Long Way Down (feat. Alexia Rodriguez)
6. Just Can't Let Go (feat. Jacob Bunton)
7. Terrified (feat. Billy Sheehan)
8. Eyes Wide Open (feat. Mats Levèn)
9. Redemption (feat. Michael Starr)
10. Summer Days (feat. Jeff Scott Soto)
11. Dreamkeeper (feat. Tom S. Englund)
12. End Of The Line (feat.Mats Levèn)

Added: April 9th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Gus G Online
Hits: 2120
Language: english

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