Heavy Fire Black Star Riders

• 1 Heavy Fire 04:28
• 2 When the Night Comes In 03:16
• 3 Dancing with the Wrong Girl 03:21
• 4 Who Rides the Tiger 04:20
• 5 Cold War Love 04:05
• 6 Testify or Say Goodbye 04:17
• 7 Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed 03:38
• 8 True Blue Kid 04:17
• 9 Ticket to Rise 04:38
• 10 Letting Go of Me 03:44
• 11 Fade 04:22
• Total Runtime 44:26

Info for Heavy Fire

There's a beautiful purity to the finest rock 'n' roll, a thrilling simplicity in striking an over-amplified guitar chord, a transcendent joy in getting high on just volume, adrenaline and a backbeat. Black Star Riders, lifers in an industry less secure than a secret in a soap opera, understand this, which is why Heavy Fire, the quintet's third album for Nuclear Blast, sounds so fresh and exhilarating and alive. Recorded with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones, Rush) at Rock Falcon Studio in Franklin, Tennessee, the follow up to BSR's acclaimed 2015 release The Killer Instinct, finds the quintet - frontman Ricky Warwick, guitarists Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson, bassist Robbie Crane and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso - in electric form, crashing through 10 tracks of swaggering, life-affirming hard rock with a shared passion and power both irresistible and inspiring.

"The follow-up to 2015's Killer Instinct, the aptly named Heavy Fire delivers another barrage of might, melody, and dual-lead riffage that invokes the heydays of classic rock without falling victim to nostalgia. The third time around for Thin Lizzy expats Ricky Warwick, Scott Gorham, Damon Johnson, and Jimmy DeGrasso, and the second ride for former Ratt and Lynch Mob member Robbie Crane, Heavy Fire sees the veteran decibel-makers firing on all cylinders. Produced by Grammy winner Nick Raskulinecz (Danzig, Rush, Death Angel), who allows the band's raw power to do all of the heavy lifting, the ten-track set comes out of the gate swinging with its pugilistic title track, a bluesy, shape-shifting kick in the noggin that plays to all of the bandmembers' strengths. Slinky guitarmonies and playful chord changes evoke vintage Thin Lizzy on standouts like "Dancing with the Wrong Girl" and "Testify or Say Goodbye," both of which are as radio-ready as they are inventive, and the wistful "Cold War Love" proves that Black Star Riders are just as capable of infusing midtempo balladry with muscle as they are straight-up barnburners like "When the Night Comes In" and "Letting Go of Me." As vital as the instrumental performances are, the biggest charge is delivered by Ricky Warwick's seasoned croon and confidant phrasing, with the gospel-tinged, Dark Side of the Moon-esque backing vocals of Wendy Moten, Gale Mayes, and Drea Rhenee providing their own particular set of sparks. What began as an extension of post-Phil Lynott-era Thin Lizzy has become something far more nuanced, and with three solid studio albums now in their rear-view mirror, it would seem that Black Star Riders have successfully managed to embrace the past without losing themselves in it." (James Christopher Monger, AMG)

Ricky Warwick, vocals, guitar
Scott Gorham, lead guitar
Damon Johnson, lead guitar, lap steel, mellotron, backing vocals
Robbie Crane, bass
Jimmy DeGrasso, drums, percussion
Wendy Moten, backing vocals (on tracks 2, 9)
Gale Mayes, backing vocals (on tracks 2, 9)
Drea Rhenee, backing vocals (on tracks 2, 9)
Pearl Aday, backing vocals (on track 6)
Fred Mandel, Hammond B3 organ (on track 6)
Nick Raskulinecz, mellotron (on track 10)

Produced by Nick Raskulinecz

Black Star Riders
are a band with a huge pedigree. Featuring lead guitarists Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) and Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper), lead vocalist/guitarist Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy, The Almighty), bassist Robert Crane (Vince Neil, Ratt) and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Megadeth, Alice Cooper, David Lee Roth), the band are in their fifth year and have three albums under their belt.

Formed in 2012 and taking inspiration for their name after a gang of outlaws in the 1993 western film Tombstone, the band quickly signed a record deal with A&R guru Monte Conner’s label, Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Their debut album, “All Hell Breaks Loose” (produced by Kevin Shirley) was released in May 2013. The release drew widespread acclaim from the world’s press and fans alike.

2013 & 2014 saw live appearances at the prestigious Download Festival in UK and Sweden Rock Festival in addition to headline tours of Europe, USA & Japan.

The bands second album, “The Killer Instinct”, was released in March 2015 and reached a UK national chart position of number 13. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Mastodon, Alice In Chains) in Nashville, the album features Warwick & Johnson as the primary songwriters. Coupled together with Gorham’s classic ‘Thin Lizzy sound’, Black Star Riders came up with something special. The album that surpassed the first in press and fan reaction and gaining many 9/10 and 10/10 reviews.

BBC Radio 2, the UK’s most listened to station, continued their support of the band’s releases and playlisted tracks from the album that gained them ‘Record of the Week’ status.

More touring continued into 2015 culminating in a UK arena run with Def Leppard & Whitesnake at the end of that year.

The bands third album “Heavy Fire” was released on February 3rd 2017 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Written and recorded in 2016 with Nick Raskulinecz again at the helm, the two lead singles were Radio 2 playlisted and again made “Record of the week” status.

The album is set for top 10 position in the UK national charts and top 20 in other European countries. An extensive UK headline tour starts March 2nd and many summer festival appearances are scheduled including the ‘special guest’ slot at the Ramblin’ Man Fair in UK.

Looking ahead, 2018 see’s the band invited to the SOLD OUT Rock Legend’s VI cruise out of Florida, alongside Sammy Hagar and Bad Company.

Booklet for Heavy Fire