Chris Caffery, Tim "Ripper" Owens join forces in SPIRITS OF FIRE

Lookie here, it's another one a'them Frontiers Records super groups... but unlike most of their random assemblages of no-names, this one actually sounds interesting.



Ripper sez "It's gonna be a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST" -- well, duh.



http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tim-ripper-owens-chris-caffery-steve-digiorgio-and-mark-zonder-join-forces-in-spirits-of-fire/

Quote :

Guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) have joined forces in a new band called SPIRITS OF FIRE. The group, which is completed by the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH, SEBASTIAN BACH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) and drummer Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING, WARLORD), is halfway through recording its debut album for an early 2018 release through Frontiers Music Srl. Enlisted to help with the writing and to produce the entire venture, including recording and mixing, is Roy "Z" Ramirez (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD).

"It's going to be a great album!" says Roy Z.

Regarding how his collaboration with Caffery came about, Owens told Metal Express Radio: "Chris and I have been friends for years, and he wrote a song ['The Shadows Are Alive'] with me on my solo CD [2009's 'Play My Game'], and we've always wanted to write together and do something. And he gave me a shout and we've signed a deal with Frontiers. It's gonna be like a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST kind of stuff. [Frontiers] is a fantastic label, so we're looking forward to it."

That's a nice collection of talent there. I'd give this one a shot.

I'll check it out for sure.

Pass. No one needs to hear Owens front another band.

Owens has been in a lot of bands over the past couple decades. I'm still curious what this will sound like.

I am interested. Any samples available yet?

Gilbert wrote:

I am interested. Any samples available yet?

Nope.

Instant purchase. Huge fan of Caffery.

That Play My Game album kind of sucked though.

But:

"It's gonna be like a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST"

That sounds like it could be the greatest thing to ever happen in music. Possibly the greatest thing to happen to mankind.

Unless they call it "Fight for the Demolition".

I own most of tim's work on cds so a new addition is more than welcome.

Lari wrote:

Unless they call it "Fight for the Demolition".

Good LORD man! Don't give'em any ideas!!

Damn that lineup was unexpected, DiGiorgio is one of metal's best bassists, and Mark Zonder is one of my favorite drummers in general. Not to mention Roy Z produced some of Bruce Dickinson's best work. Consider me excited as shit.

ultmetal wrote:

Owens has been in a lot of bands over the past couple decades. I'm still curious what this will sound like.

Dude has to work.

Had he remained in Priest, I don't think that would have been the case.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Owens has been in a lot of bands over the past couple decades. I'm still curious what this will sound like.

Dude has to work.

Had he remained in Priest, I don't think that would have been the case.

One of my favourite owens albums has got to be beyond fear. Pure metal.

I love Beyond Fear and really enjoy Jugulator.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I love Beyond Fear and really enjoy Jugulator.

This. Both great records. You have good taste. Or we both have bad taste. Whatever.

Either way, Owens' singing was a little grating on that solo album. I hope he somehow contains it this time around, when surrounded with this kind of talent. I'm thinking Roy Z is the right man for the job. He knows how to get a good performance and songs always come first. Except when he's playing guitar, then guitars come first

That lineup is impressive regardless, and I actually think Owens might be the weak link. No offense. I like Owens a lot. It's just that the guys in the "band" (if that's what you want to call it) are THAT GOOD.

Chris Caffery solo CDs are nothing short of amazing. If only he could sing. He's more focused on selling hot sauce than improving his singing. That's okay too, though. He's probably a millionaire with all the Trans-Siberian Orchestra gigs anyway. But maybe this one time everything comes together and both Owens and Caffery get everything together and something magical happens.

I'm hoping for a mix between Winters Bane and Caffery solo CDs, rather than Priest & 'Tage.

Oh yeah, bring back the Winter's Bane Owens and this will be killer.

Anyone owns ripper's solo album Play my game? Recommended?

Yes. Not recommended. Songs are stock, performance is dull.

Beyond Fear is much, much better.

My go-to Owens discs are Priest's Jugulator, Winters Bane's Heart Of A Killer, Iced Earth's Glorious Burden and Beyond Fear.

Dude's got pipes but most of the other stuff he's sung on has been meh.

FF speaks true though the first Charred Walls is ok.

Winters Bane's Heart Of A Killer is extremly good. Tim's best for sure.

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

Winters Bane's Heart Of A Killer is extremly good. Tim's best for sure.

Got this one on amazon over 2 years ago. Need to give it a fresh spin. I recall it was very good.

Fat Freddy wrote:

My go-to Owens discs are Priest's Jugulator, Winters Bane's Heart Of A Killer, Iced Earth's Glorious Burden and Beyond Fear.

Dude's got pipes but most of the other stuff he's sung on has been meh.

The Glorious Burden is my favorite of his singing performances. I can listen to that album on repeat and never get tired.

Dark Horseman wrote:

FF speaks true though the first Charred Walls is ok.

I tried, but I couldn't get into CWOTD. The band members are all insanely talented but it sounds like each guy is playing a different song, all at the same time.

It does have that feel of each player kind of showing off.