Bonfire - Fireworks

Bonfire - Fireworks
This 1987 album was the second full length from these veteran German rockers.

The opener, Ready 4 Reaction, is an uptempo Scorpions-esque rocker with a tasty Judas Priest style twin guitar attack, all lightened with keyboards and a catchy chorus. The keyboards are the main problem with this record as they really date the album. They make the 'Raise Your Fist...' era Alice Cooper meets Europe melodic rock of Never Mind cheesier than it should be. Sweet Obsession and Cold Days are catchy but have way too much AOR keyboards parping all over them, which is a shame because the Kane Roberts styled guitar work on these tracks is really good.

This record references a lot of quality '80s rock. Rock Me Now is a cracking, fist pumping tune, again reminiscent of 'Raise Your Fist...' while Sleeping All Alone is an excellent slice of '80s arena rock with a fantastic harmonised chorus. You Make Me Feel could almost be one of the Scorp's killer ballads. American Nights is super catchy hard rock which could have featured in any number of Brat Pack movies (this track makes me want to watch the Rob Lowe film, 'Youngblood'). Don't Get Me Wrong has a 'Headless Children' era WASP feel. The vocal similarities of vocalist Claus Lessmann and Blackie Lawless are most apparent here.

This is a solid album from a solid band but it has dated somewhat.