Widow
On Fire

April 2006
Released: 2005, Cruz Del Sur Music
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: MetalChick

Widow’s second album brings forth some in-your-face power metal. The more I listen to it, the more I get into it. There is no doubt that these guys (and girl) have great talent, as ON FIRE is a solid collection of heavy, melodic, headbang-inducing songs. With two guitarists, they pack these songs with harmonies and shredding solos. And the combination of female vocals and death metal growls adds some nice flavor to the whole package.



I’m surprised by the eclectic qualities this band has. Amidst the heavy tunes of the classic power metal formula, they throw in some slower sections for substance. The song “Not Alone” is one of the better tunes, as it starts off with a ballad feel, the female vocals at their best, then builds up into powerful, heavy second half.



Alright, time for the one thing that dampens everything for me: lyrical content. According to the band, it is the morbid personalities of each member that forms their unique sound. That explains things. It was when the lyrics of “Family Affair” hit my ears that I began to rethink my rating of this album. The song “The Preacher’s Daughter” follows that same topic of incest, but lucky for them I can’t make out enough of the words in other songs to pinpoint the rest of their favorite subjects. So if you’re into that stuff plus death and love or more accurately, the combination of all of the above, this is totally your thing.



Don’t let that completely overshadow the fact that musically, this band slays. Definitely worth checking out.