brother firetribe live at apollo

Released: 22 March 2010 Label: Spinefarm UK

Do you remember back in '84?

Personally, I don't, but these guys certainly do. The overexcited, in-your-face, charismatic little brother of Emppu Vuorinen's symphonic metal outfit Nightwish and front-man Pekka Ansio Heino's Leverage; Brother Firetribe are the perfect pathway to the faraway land of big riffs and even bigger hair.

Live at Apollo is the first live release from the band after two studio albums brought enormous national success, and was recorded last April to a sold-out crowd at the atmospheric Helsinki Apollo. Together with a DVD of the gig, it showcases just how much fun this band are to have around - particularly when watching them live.

Fun isn't really something you think about when you imagine the cold, dark winters of Scandinavia and the bands it generally births. But you can be assured that there isn't a shred of Finnish melancholy within Brother Firetribe. A perfectly timed throwback to the carefree days of AOR / melodic rock when all that mattered was letting your hair down and enjoying the music.

Opening with Who Will You Run To Now - a punchy, synth-driven number reminiscent of classic Bon Jovi and Van Halen - you can tell this is the theme for the evening - light hearted yet incredibly singalong worthy hardrock. Runaways and Wildest Dreams have the crowd swaying and nodding their heads in time with Pekka's impeccable (imPekkable? ok that was lame) vocals, hardly faltering throughout whilst he inflects every note with animation, charm and his trademark cheeky smile.

Really, that could sum up every track they play. Technically accurate with a balanced array of keyboard-heavy and guitar driven melodies that compliment the enigmatic vocalist's range; highlights include the title track of their debut album Break Out, commanding duet with Nightwish's Annette Olzon Heart Full of Fire and fan favourite I Am Rock.

Are you ready? Aim, Fire!

The simplicity in their genius is something MusicXtra has picked up on before - straight forward classic melodic rock that does the job in four minutes flat. Organic and honest, this fresh approach to a genre so heavily littered with complexity and melodrama is particularly refreshing.

There is nothing contrived about Brother Firetribe's music, they don't get political and they don't take themselves too seriously - with their cliched lyrics and larger than life solos, that would be pretty difficult. So dust off your cowboy boots, backcomb your hair and go out with a bang. Even when the sun isn't shining in the cold, cold hell of Finland, you can still party like it's 1984.

by Kate Stulberg