Panic Cell - Fire It Up

Album: Fire It Up
Artist: Panic Cell
Label: Undergroove

Fire It Up is the third studio album from Panic Cell, following on from 2004’s Bitter Part of Me and 2007’s What Doesn’t Kill us, so how does it stack up in comparison? For a start, the production is a lot better, this album sounds the most professional of the bunch by far, the vocals seem stronger than ever this time around, Luke Bell’s deep growling voice really delivers and drives the songs; then there is the music itself which quite simply, is excellent! Between the hard hitting guitar riffs there are some more mellow moments which really gives the album some breathing space. Putting all this together it’s clear to see that the band really worked hard this time around to produce their best album so far.

As soon as the first track kicked in I knew this was going to be something special. This is one of those albums that you just can’t put down, on my first listen I was expecting at least one or two tracks to fall short, but they never did, every track on this album has something to offer and each song has its own sound. Fire it up is an album that will have long term fans more than satisfied and add a few more to the ever growing fanbase.

Panic Cell really have hit the nail on this one, with a sound that is worthy of a classic rock band while at the same time managing to sound unique and fresh. As a self confessed metal head I have listened to many bands over the years, some good, some bad and then some very bad, but luckily every so often an album comes along that delivers in spades and really fires up my enthusiasm for rock music, this is without a doubt one of those albums.

It is really difficult to pick out the best tracks as they are all worthy of inclusion for their own reason, so I wont try. This is one of those albums that you have to listen to from start to finish rather than the odd track here and there, sure, many people will pick out their favourites but for me the album is definitely best listened to as a whole. I would have to give this album full marks as try as I might, after listening to it for the umpteenth time I cannot find faults with it.

The new album is out on the 5th April, so if like me, you enjoy good honest rock music, you should add this to your collection……Well go on…. FIRE IT UP!

Track listing:

1. Burden inside
2. Unbroken
3. Lie to me
4. Splitting skulls
5. To die for love
6. Jaded
7. Down to the next time
8. Black juice
9. Right here waiting
10. Forever
11. To die for lust

Reviewer: Alan Jones