ALBUM REVIEW: Bonfire - Higher Ground


With their roots deep in the 1970s, Germans Bonfire are an institution whose discography stretches back way beyond the debut Bonfire album Don’t Touch the Light. But let’s not dwell on the past, for it’s the latest album Higher Ground that grabs the attention now and it’s with both hands that Hans Ziller and his band do indeed grasp it. 11 tracks spread over 45-minutes sees the band in prime form. 

There are thick riffs that should please those who like their rock with big noise, whilst the band haven’t let their trademark melodies slip for one minute. It’s a glorious combination of melody and hard rock driven forward by the band’s founder member Hans Ziller, who at 66 is still cranking out memorable tunes that linger long in the memory. This is the first album to feature new singer Dyan Mair and drummer Fabio Alessandrini, the latter having a list of bands he’s featured in which is longer than your arm. Alongside these are bassist Ronnie Parkes and guitarist Frank Pané, both with a decade plus service under their belts. 

Whilst the melodic rock genre is filled with bands whose music is just average; Bonfire really can hit you with the hooks that make you sit up and listen. The intro of Nostradamus provides immediate atmosphere which then leads into the single I Will Rise. Ziller explains that I Will Rise is the story of Hans Ziller, who founded the band in 1972 and was fired by his friends in 1989. He was threatened, humiliated and cheated out of millions. In his book Rock'n'roll Survivor he writes that he died inside at that time. But he doesn't give up and gets his band back - I will rise!” It's a powerful full first track with some powerful guitar work and Alessandrini’s driving drumming propelling the song forward at pace. The harmonies of the band add depth, whilst Mair takes mere seconds to prove his mettle. His voice is strong, rich and clean. It’s ideally suited to the band’s music and throughout the album, he’s one of the strongest parts. 


Throughout the album, the guitar work is nothing short of spectacular. Be it the fantastic double tracking harmonies that bring back memories of the classic duellers like Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, or the peeling lead breaks that scream through the air like blisteringly fast falcons. There’s the Accept style chug of Higher Ground that gets the head nodding, the gentle ballad When Love Comes Down, and the rip snorting Jealousy that amps the velocity right back up. It’s an album that also grows on you, and whilst my initial listen was a little less than focused, the hooks and superb musicianship swiftly caught me in its trap. It’s an album deep into double figures, but there’s no denying that on Higher Ground, Bonfire are showing their muscle. This isn’t a band looking to pass the torch any time soon. And that’s good news for everyone.

Band Photo Credit: Frank Kollbi

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