I hate to say it, but I had to check if this Blaze was not an album from the former Iron Maiden vocalist. So sorry to say that, but sometimes I do not check the album when receiving it. But, no, it is not. This Blaze are much more related to Chariot than to Iron Maiden. Well, I’d love to say that happens all the time, I mean the confusion with the names, however I really cannot.
Blaze have been around for quite some time as itin the end of 1998 in Osaka, Japan, and began performing since 1999. In 2001 they released the 2-song demo “See The Light”. In 2002 Tsuneo Shibatani left the band and Yasuhito Yamamoto joined on drums the next year. It took a few years of rehearsals and in June 2007, the band independently released their first album, “Blaze.”
“Out Through the Door” is an album that goes in a crescendo with a very gentle and slow theme that go growing in speed and heavyness. The instrumental album opener “1335” is hugely inspired on Rush early years. Blaze really knew how to capture the intense atmosphere of the epoch with a pristine reconstruction of the instrument tones and technique. If the fan closes the eyes, he will think it is Rush. I say that as a compliment, if you know what I mean. “1335” even captures the sweet and bitter elements of that time. The following track “Let The Right One In“ has a harder grip with that whah pedal effect I just love. The song is pretty catchy even without a catchy chorus, the instrumentals do the part here. That’s where I started to remember Chariot early albums 1984s “The Warrior“ and 1986s “Burning Ambition.“ However, I guess, it is with “The Man In White Boots” that the band really shows what they really got. With no shadow of doubt the best track of the album. The band gets to be catchy and heavy at the same time without singalong choruses or other tricks. Well, long gone are the days this kind of music was commercial. The band returns with Rush’s spirit with the moody “Picture On The Wall” and its whah pedal again. I love the atmosphere the band built up here with a cadenced and slow bass making the bridge to an inspired guitar solo. Music that inspires me all the time.
As a matter of fact, at first glance, “Out Through the Door” did not catch my attention. However, after a while Blaze got my heart. This is really the kind of music that inspires me besides all the great sonic memories it triggers. Blaze did a great job recreating the atmosphere of the early 1980s. Even though the press release did not say a word about Rush, I guess they were one of the biggest references to the band’s music. Or maybe it is only me with my crooked memory that triggered it. Happens all the time as my dear child of the night must have noticed.
Blaze “Out Through the Door” was released on October 24th via No Remorse Records.
Track Listing:
1. 1335
2. Let The Right One In
3. The Man In White Boots
4. Picture On The Wall
5. Thrilled To Pieces
6. Someone Special
7. Rock ‘n Roll Man
8. Fort Of Sand
9. 48 Parts
Watch “Let The Right One In” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!