Fan-filmed video footage of Greek/American metallers FIREWIND performing their cover version of the Michael Sembello song “Maniac” on October 31 at Manning Bar in Sydnay, Australia can be seen below.
FIREWIND celebrated its 10th anniversary by releasing a live album on June 24 via Century Media Records in Europe. Entitled “Apotheosis – Live 2012”, the CD contains 17 songs recorded at special anniversary shows in Greece as well as all over Europe during the band’s “Few Against Many” tour in 2012. With a playing time of 69 minutes, the effort is a great overview of the band’s career so far, which consists of seven studio albums. It also marks FIREWIND‘s final release with singer Apollo Papathanasio, who decided to leave the group at the end of last year. He has since been replaced by Kelly Sundown Carpenter (ADAGIO, BEYOND TWILIGHT) as session frontman for all 2013 live activities.
The cover artwork for “Apotheosis – Live 2012”, which was released as a digipak in its first limited-edition pressing, was designed by FIREWIND‘s longtime partner in all design matters, Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, ANGRA, DREAM EVIL) based on live photography by Hans-W. Rock.
Greek metallers FIREWIND, created by guitar virtuoso Gus G were formed back in 1998 but really hit the headlines with their fourth album release “Allegiance.” The band have had a very busy few years touring and recording and also Gus also plays guitar in Ozzy Osbourne‘s band.
FIREWIND released their latest album “Apotheosis – Live 2012, recently as a celebration of the band’s 10th anniversary. It also marked a new beginning with the departure of vocalist Apollo Papathanasio and the entrance of temporary (or maybe not?) vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter.
Blackdiamond caught up with keyboard player and guitarist Bob Katsionis following FIREWIND‘s storming show on Friday afternoon at Bloodstock 2013.
Read several excerpts from the conversation here and listen to the audio or watch the interview in full below (and see Bob recording a jingle for Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem!):
Discussing vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter, Bob expressed:
“He has good points and these become more and more and more, because he becomes one with the band, with the attitude we have, with the mentality. You know, it takes time.
Apollo, actually he was never into it, he was always losing it rather than adding to his performance. Maybe people couldn’t see it, but we try to evolve as a band. We want to make every gig have one more thing and Apollo was not doing this. It’s good that we see Kelly feeling comfortable in the band; his voice is there, he doesn’t lose the tone, he knows the lyrics. That’s what we need, he’s a cool guy.”
On latest release “Apotheosis – Live 2012” Bob said the following:
“First of all, it closes an era, this era with Apollo and the first ten years of the band. I think in the end it’s a very sincere and honest live album because we didn’t fool around with it in the studio. There are a lot of mistakes inside you know, but it is what it is. WE picked the best songs and made one CD as a present to our fans, it’s a very good ‘get to know the band’ CD, like a compilation. It’s definitely not a business move, just a cool thing to give back to our fans.”
Talking about upcoming plans for the band and also Bob’s own projects, he revealed:
“I know Gus is making his solo album but I cannot speak about it because he knows better. But we’re gonna be still around doing what we have to do and at some point we’re gonna start writing a new album, because there are some new ideas. But there is no rush this time, we take things easy.
OUTLOUD are making a new album. Actually at this moment George Kollias from NILE, he’s a good friend of mine, he’s recording the drums. Chandler in America, he’s recording the vocals, I go back and do some guitars. And there are big plans about this album, I’m very happy about it. I also started doing my fifth solo album – that’s going to be different; more piano and more new age stuff.”
Blabbermouth.net posted: Jägermeister U.K. conducted an interview with FIREWIND and OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G. (real name: Kostas Karamitroudis) at the Bloodstock Open Air festival, which is being held August 8-11 at Catton Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.
FIREWIND celebrated its 10th anniversary by releasing a live album on June 24 via Century Media Records in Europe. Entitled “Apotheosis – Live 2012”, the CD contains 17 songs recorded at special anniversary shows in Greece as well as all over Europe during the band’s “Few Against Many” tour in 2012. With a playing time of 69 minutes, the effort is a great overview of the band’s career so far, which consists of seven studio albums. It also marks FIREWIND‘s final release with singer Apollo Papathanasio, who decided to leave the group at the end of last year. He has since been replaced by Kelly Sundown Carpenter (ADAGIO, BEYOND TWILIGHT) as session frontman for all 2013 live activities.
The cover artwork for “Apotheosis – Live 2012”, which was released as a digipak in its first limited-edition pressing, was designed by FIREWIND‘s longtime partner in all design matters, Gustavo Sazes (ARCH ENEMY, ANGRA, DREAM EVIL) based on live photography by Hans-W. Rock.
In a recent interview with Metal Assault, FIREWIND guitarist/mainman Gus G. stated about Apollo‘s departure: “People following the band for the past few years would know that we’ve had different session guys at the live shows even when Apollo was in the band because he just had to skip a few tours during the year. So whenever the schedule was getting too heavy for him and he would have to take care of stuff back home, we had to get other guys. So this time, he had to skip again and he was like, ‘You know, instead of holding you guys back, I might as well just quit.’ I think he did the right thing for him, for us as well, because we can only do that [getting session vocalists] so many times and we’re better off trying to find a new permanent guy instead of getting replacements for a tour. So at least now we know that we have to find somebody new, and in a sense it’s a bit sad, but at the same time it’s some sort of relief.”
Asked how Carpenter is doing as the touring replacement for Papathanasio, Gus told Metal Shock Finland: “He’s fantastic, this guy. Everybody who sees him perform live, their jaws are dropped immediately. They’re, like, ‘Wow!’ It’s amazing what this guy can do with his voice. And he’s such a nice guy, too. I mean, we started out with Kelly, ’cause we didn’t know him. And he really nailed it on the songs, he killed it. We hired the guy to go out with us and do the U.S. tour and the festivals, not really committing to further plans. We kind of take it day by day and see how it works between us, and so far it’s been really good. Right now, there are no plans for us to go back in the studio very quickly, so we’ll see when the time comes what will happen. But so far so good with Kelly. I hope it will continue.”
FIREWIND‘s latest album, “Few Against Many”, entered the official chart in Greece at No. 42 and in Germany at No. 90. Released in Europe on May 21, 2012 via Century Media Records and in North America on May 22 through DisManic, Inc. via eOne Distribution, the CD was mixed by Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi at Audiohammer Studios (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEATH ANGEL) in Sanford, Florida.
FIREWIND, Greece’s leading metal band spearheaded by guitar-wizard and Ozzy Osbourne band member Gus G., has just released a new live album entitled “Apotheosis – Live 2012”, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the band in style. The album can be purchased as limited edition Digipak CD from CM Distro HERE and as Digital Download HERE.
The live songs featured on this album were recorded at special anniversary shows in Greece as well as all over Europe during the band’s “Few Against Many” tour in 2012 and comes with a playing time of 69 minutes, featuring a great overview of the band’s 7-albums spanning career so far as well as quite a different track-listing than 2008’s “Live Premonition” release. “Apotheosis – Live 2012” also marks the final FIREWIND release with longterm singer Apollo Papathanasio, who left the band by the end of last year. He has ever since been be replaced by Kelly SundownCarpenter (Adagio, Beyond Twilight) as session front man for all 2013 live-activities. The cover artwork for “Apotheosis – Live 2012” was designed by FIREWIND’s longtime partner in all design matters including the band’s latest studio album release “Few Against Many” (2012), Gustavo Sazes / abstrata.net (Arch Enemy, Angra, Dream Evil, etc.) based on live photography by Hans-W. Rock.
FIREWIND – “Apotheosis – Live 2012” (69:07)
1. Head Up High (4:21)
2. Wall Of Sound (4:04)
3. Allegiance (4:35)
4. Few Against Many (5:00)
5. The Departure (0:41)
6. Heading For The Dawn (4:04)
7. Losing My Mind (6:15)
8. World On Fire (4:45)
9. Guitar Solo 2012 (2:17)
10. SKG (5:26)
11. Between Heaven And Hell (5:13)
12. Piano Solo (0:53)
13. Edge Of A Dream (4:24)
14. Mercenary Man (3:47)
15. Glorious (3:41)
16. Maniac (4:32
17. Falling To Pieces (5:02)
The Digital Download version of the release additionally includes the following 2 live-bonustracks:
FIREWIND were recently featured in a comprehensive documentary on Germany’s ZDF.kultur TV channel about the inaugural edition of the Full Metal Cruise. The entire report can be streamed now HERE!
FIREWIND, Greece’s leading metal band spearheaded by guitar-wizard and Ozzy Osbourne band member Gus G., will soon be releasing a new live album entitled “Apotheosis – Live 2012” on June 24th, 2013 via Century Media Records in Europe and on July 24th, 2013 via Marquee Records in Japan, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the band in style.
Therefore, FIREWIND are now launching another new live song off “Apotheosis – Live 2012”. Check out “Head Up High” via the website of Germany’s Rock Hard magazine.
Gus G., who just returned from the “Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards” in the UK where he appeared on stage as special guest with Paradise Lost, checked in to comment about the song as follows:
“We’ve just gotten back from playing a bunch of festivals around Europe and there’s still more to come in August! Very excited about the street date of “Apotheosis” in a few days! Listen to the new track “Head Up High”, enjoy the summer and pick up our new release!”
A previously launched live version of “Few Against Many” can be heard below:
A promotional online trailer for the release including more sound samples can be viewed on the youtube player below:
Here is the complete tracklisting for the release:
FIREWIND – “Apotheosis – Live 2012”
1. Head Up High
2. Wall Of Sound
3. Allegiance
4. Few Against Many
5. The Departure
6. Heading For The Dawn
7. Losing My Mind
8. World On Fire
9. Guitar Solo 2012
10. SKG
11. Between Heaven And Hell
12. Piano Solo
13. Edge Of A Dream
14. Mercenary Man
15. Glorious
16. Maniac
17. Falling To Pieces
Metal Shock Finland‘s Blackdiaomnd has recently conducted an interview with amazing Gus G which can be heard at this location.
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