FIRE MERCHANTS

What a great name for a band! And these guys do bring the heat(haha). This is a power trio with John Goodsall(BRAND X) on guitar and synth-guitar, Chester Thompson(Frank Zappa, WEATHER REPORT & GENESIS) on drums and Doug Lunn on bass. Franz Pusch produced and engineered this album and he also adds synths and samples. The music is quite heavy and noisy with a Jazz flavour at times and it's all instrumental. It was also released in 1989 a bleak time for our type of music.

"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.