“Fire on the Mountainside” can easily be described as one of the most adventurous albums of 2025. The music on this record is deeply rooted in the 1970s hard rock, yet it is executed with the force of the 1980s heavy metal. Not only that, but the album also contains a lot of folky and tribal influences. All of it mixed up adds to one great musical escapade. And above it all, it is a very dark-sounding offering.
Fer De Lance’s music has a lot of space, and the band takes their time to develop each concept. Nothing commercial here, just pure art for the sake of art! The songs flow, stand, and then tower over the listener. As you experience the music, you feel like you participate in the ritual it creates. Each play is a rewarding experience, and even after several spins, there are still particles that come out at you announced.
All seven tracks on “Fires on the Mountainside” are great and can be individualized separately, but this album is meant to be enjoyed as a whole. Everything fits here; the textures, progressions, and passages are all controlled by one common denominator. Also, there is a recurrent mood that unites the tracks as well. Adding a bonus song down the line would completely ruin the original flow. The album is perfect as is.
“Fires on the Mountainside” is like a soundtrack to a most wicked fairy tale, or perhaps a crusade. Each song is an adventure and an invitation into the unknown. Much has to be said about the great instrumental and vocal performance from the band. “Fires on the Mountainside” delivers on every level possible and certainly is one of the best releases of 2025! While the group claims to be following Children of the Sea, this writer unquestionably follows Fer De Lance!
Mark Kadzielawa
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