Review BONFIRE “Higher Ground”

German metallers Bonfire are back with a new album. “Higher Ground” is the 24th release from Hans Ziller and his bandmates and what impresses is the willpower of Ziller to navigate the band through good times and heavy storms.

Since the band released the rather strong “Fistful of Fire” in 2020, there have been some changes in the line-up. Vocalist Dyan Mair and drummer Fabio Alessandrini joined Bonfire in 2022 and their first effort was to re-record the band’s first three albums. Now it is a completely new album that the guys have been involved in and what roars out of the speakers is very solid melodic metal. The 80’s roots are very much present and although the album has some heavier moments, it is the balance of melody and heaviness that defines the sound.

A song that represents this approach is “Fallin'”. Well-crafted hooks, moments of ease and a powerful chorus are what characterize the song. Bonfire stay true to their musical heritage and are a modern version of themselves. It begins with “I Will Rise” which follows the intro called “Nostradamus”. “I Will Rise” unfolds its catchiness right away and the band is not afraid to use keyboards. But the guitars are still the main part of Bonfire’s sound, which can also be heard in the rather dark “Come Hell Or High Water”. The song is a contrast to “I Died Tonight” which has more melodic rock roots and is a melodic ear candy.

The obligatory ballad is called “When Love Comes Down”, which is good, but also a bit clichéd. Bonfire are at their best when the guitars take over, like in the heavy pounding “Jealousy”.

“Higher Ground” is a typical Bonfire release. Hans Ziller and the band don’t disappoint their fans, as the album contains songs that are powerful and show good dynamics. It is 80’s based melodic metal that is well produced and maintains a good level of heaviness. Consistency is the keyword here, which is also the weak point of the album. There’s not much new on “Higher Ground”, which is probably not what the band’s loyal fanbase expects anyhow.