Spirits of Fire’s ‘Light Speed Marching’ Slays
Today's post is from our friend Him. Here's the full title he wanted, but it's too long for this website's stylesheet!
FOR THE LOVE OF RITA, I MEAN, RIPPER . . . SPIRITS OF FIRE’S “LIGHT SPEED MARCHING” SLAYS
I hope that title doesn’t make Metalboy! jealous. And this is also a nod to Bkallday. But enough with the poster-centric lead-in call-outs . . . and the hyphens.
Never heard of Spirits of Fire before. But I like the background details: Chris Caffery (of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra fame), Ripper, Mark Zonder (a Fates Warning alumnus), and Steve DiGiorgio (Testament’s The Gathering, anyone?). Who produced this slab of metal? Roy Z. Who released it? Frontiers. Okay, at least the Italian guy didn’t get his spaghetti-covered mitts on this one!
I think that the song speaks for itself:
This is the Ripper of “Cathedral Spires.” This is the Timmy that Priest wanted, chose, and then opted to drop in favor of the metal god, Rob. I even hear a distinct nod to the Painkiller-era. Heck, even the album cover looks like it could be a Priest disc.
I was about to say something controversial about this song and how it compares to the current iteration of Priest. But I will let both stand on their own merits. And they both do stand.
As some noted on my previous post, Ripper is in too many bands. But, to his credit, he explains that he has bills to pay and obligations to meet. He is a lifer and bands like Spirits of Fire help to pay his way. No shame in that, especially when he can turn out music like this. I still don’t like the hat, though.
Buy the album here:
