FIRE MERCHANTS

Honestly, I was disappointed with this release, expecting more of a fusion fest but it never really happened anywhere. If you like great instrumental rock guitar -- then you will enjoy this release.

"Saladin" is a great opener as they don't pull any punches here to start but then it settles into a powerful groove with the guitar soloing over top. It's fairly repetitive but I really like this opening number. "Hamsterdam" is another funny song title. This one is fairly heavy as well and I like when the guitar comes in at 30 seconds with some interesting expressions that will come and go. A good track. "Conflagration" is one I'm not that into mainly due to that swinging jazz melody that will come and go. I do appreciate the contrasting section that starts before 1 1/2 minutes with the guitar solo that lasts for some time. A nice bass solo follows after 2 1/2 minutes then that swinging melody returns. "Tunnel Vision" is a jazzy tune that does little for me especially the guitar led melody that comes and goes. Some killer bass though at times. An interesting section beginning before 1 1/2 minutes where all three guys impress me big time. So good! And it lasts until after 3 minutes when that guitar melody returns that I'm not fond of.

"Last Rhino" is the first and last(not counting the bonus track) song that is quite mellow. It does turn fuller before 1 1/2 minutes but contrasts will continue. "Divisions" reminds me of an earlier track. I do like the guitar before 2 minutes as it's strummed a couple of times then back to just soloing away as the drums and bass support. Contrasts continue. "Ignition" is the first song to feature some atmosphere then the guitar kicks in sounding different tone-wise. A heavy bass/ drum groove starts before a minute then the guitar solos. Catchy stuff. "Cancel The Album" is more like it as we get some challenging music that borders on experimental but the song is only a minute long sadly. "Nevele" starts out powerfully and we get synths here as well. The guitar joins in quickly but then it settles as we get some excellent sounding bass before 2 1/2 minutes then back to the guitar led melody. "Z 104" features some in your face bass early on as the drums pound. Catchy stuff with some killer guitar over top.

I do like this album but some of the jazzier sections do little for me. I feel like I should like this more but it's just not connecting with me for some reason.

A number of details about this band and album are wrong here. The album was released in 1992. A date clear in my mind, since I was asked by the president of Renaissance Records in San Diego, what I thought of the album for a possible European release. And quite clearly with two thirds of the band for both recordings being American, and John Goodsall exiling himself on the West Coast, this is an American band. Indeed neither of Firemerchants' albums got UK release. And for recording purposes Goodsall renamed the Firemerchants, Brand X West (e.g. for one of those King Crimson tribute albums), when BX's remaining members were arguing the toss over ownership of the name - Percy Jones had Brand X East in NYC, which effectively became Tunnels (and Goodsall is known to guest).

I've also called this an early example of metal jazz fusion (Shaun Baxter's Jazz Metal being released about the same time), and what I heard on several tracks had me going further coining the term 'grunge jazz rock' (1992 was around the height of grunge). Landlords of Atlantis stuck me as a jazz rock album that had quite a bit new and dynamic about it. But it needed a sympathetic producer to provide vigorous advice on its contents. The title track is wonderful for the first 2minutes 30seconds (or there abouts), but Goodsall has the bit between his teeeth and noodles on for double that length of time: a classic example of less is more. I'm told the record company thought this track was self-indulgent - there is an explanation but I daren't repeat it here. The best complete tracks are 9 28 91, Sybil (my favourite on which Goodsall on guitar and Midi travels seamlessly through several forms of heavy rock), Flamekeeper, (And Again) Hamsterdam (a rerun from the first album) and Thing 15. The remaining tracks are far from bad but the ones I like are so much better and have been played on a regular basis since 1992 - the title track with it s sampled US marine corp trailing song, English church bells, always gets play for 2.30!

A good jazz rock album of powerful playing but inconsistent - and way better than the first album.