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Blog Categories Review CATEGORY VI - Firecry - Reviewed By metalcrypt!

CATEGORY VI - Firecry - Reviewed By metalcrypt! Monday April 24 2023, 5:16 PM

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CATEGORY VI - Firecry - Reviewed By metalcrypt ! Check it out here at this link: http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=14324

Firecry is the third album from Canada's Category VI, a band out of Newfoundland that plays a crunchy, modern, US-flavored style of metal. It's a riff fest with lots of booming drums and bass along with strong vocals. The writing is good, but not anything I'd call overly catchy, even after multiple listens, though I think the Middle Eastern melodies on "Valkyrie" are particularly well done and serve the song well. Singer Amanda Gosse has a prototypical metal voice with plenty of power and range, so I can't argue with her ability. However I feel like she is belting out almost every single vocal line when some might have benefitted from more finesse. She simply doesn't mesh with the music to my ears, rather it sounds like she's trying to overpower it. And the decision to cover Heart's "Barracuda" was not one I'd advise the band to repeat. They do a pretty faithful rendition of the music, but Ann Wilson's vocal lines, especially the choruses, give Gosse trouble and she lands flat a few times. I mean this as no disrespect to Gosse, few people can do what Wilson did, but the song still doesn't work as well as the band intended. I can't say the rest of Firecry did much for me, but it is performed well and if you like bands such as Ravage and Widow, you might find something here to your liking. metalcrypt

Release Date: 24 March 2023

FFO: Solicitor, Smoulder, Tower

Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Bold and True Female Fronted Anthemic Canadian Power Metal / Classic 80’s Metal Combustion!!! The 1st embers sparked in the frosty Canadian Tundra of Newfoundland, Canada in 2011 when CATEGORY VI released their “Vinland” Demo. This swiftly ignited their path and their debut album “Fireborn” (2013) was unleashed in a blaze of burning Metal! Those coals were never quenched, and CATEGORY VI added fuel to the fire with their 2017 follow up Inferno “War Is Hell”.

CATEGORY VI Now returns in a full blazing firestorm with their 3rd album and most accomplished release to date “Firecry” From the initial flickering flame of “Firecry” To the final cinders of the absolutely combustible cover of HEARTS classic “Barracuda”, CATEGORY VI deliver True and classy 80’s Heavy Metal with utter perfection! “Firecry” boasts a crisp, clear and scorching modern production that does not distract from the bands True 80’s metal sound.

Lyrically crafted around themes of personal pride and triumph (Valkyrie, Heavy is the Crown), witchcraft persecution (Firecry), women’s strength (She Runs With Wolves) & their excellent live performances (Coven), these concepts are boldly and powerfully delivered by the soaring vocal excellence of Female lead singer Amanda Jackman. Bolstered and fueled by the powerful stainless steel riffs and catchy melodies of guitarist Geoff Waye, pounding anvil bass of Keith Jackman and thunderous steadfast drumming of Brian Downton, CATEGORY VI bring classy and classic 1980’s Power – Traditional Heavy Metal into the 21st century with blazing glory!

To close out one of the best Heavy Metal albums of the decade, CATEGORY VI delivers an immaculate True Metal, yet Radio friendly cover of the chart-toping Heart classic “Barracuda” With “Firecry” CATEGORY VI unleash a global scale climate changing Metal cyclone which just may melt the North American frozen tundra with their blazing Power Metal!

Check out this video!