Firebird
Grand Union

August 2009
Released: 2009, Metal Blade
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Alan Gilkeson

Carcass's Bill Steer's alter ego Firebird, where he sheds the growl and puts on his bluesy Rock 'n' Roll clothes, returns with their fifth album, an old school romp in seventies hay. Most often the best of Metal bands share a connection with the past and Blues based Rock is certainly the progenitor of Metal. No wonder Carcass was so good. Obviously Mr. Steer has that interrelation down pat, as evidenced by GRAND UNION and the four previous Firebird albums.



Steer is a master of the blues guitar. There's some vicious solos here, especially on the James Taylor cover 'Fool For You' and the super rocker 'Blue Flame'. Smok Smoczkiewicz's bass is turned way up high and almost takes over the guitar at times, check out 'Gold Label' in that regard. But Steer's vocal is the real prize here. The production makes the whole record sound like it's 1972, especially the vocal, with it's slight echo and Steer's old school feel.



On 'Worried Mind', a Duster Bennet cover, Steer also shows his Harmonica prowess. He's the star of the Firebird trio, rollicking through the album as both genius and man with the blues. At times mesmerizing, one could imagine lighting up a joint or tripping some LSD and letting the music take you back to Woodstock. It's worth a spin or two indeed.