Fire Up the Blades

Fire Up the Blades is the third studio album by Canadian heavy metal band 3 Inches of Blood. It was released on 26 June 2007 by Roadrunner Records and is the band's final release through the label. It is also the first release by the band to feature lead guitarist Justin Hagberg, rhythm guitarist Shane Clark, bassist Nick Cates and drummer Alexei Rodriguez, the latter of whom was kicked out of the band six months later.

Fire Up the Blades
Studio album by
3 Inches of Blood
ReleasedMay 28, 2007 (2007-05-28)
RecordedNovember 2006 at Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia
GenreHeavy metal, power metal, thrash metal
Length51:52
LabelRoadrunner
ProducerJoey Jordison
3 Inches of Blood chronology
Advance and Vanquish
(2004)		 Fire Up the Blades
(2007)		 Trial of Champions
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Kerrang!
Stylus Magazine(A−) link

Background and recording

The band confirmed in February 2006 that they had begun to write new material, and by then had about four songs prepared to appear on the forthcoming album.

Fire Up the Blades marks the first major role of Joey Jordison of Slipknot and Murderdolls, as a producer, who revealed that he'd been a fan of the band since their first studio album, Battlecry Under a Wintersun.[1]

Prior to the album's release, the band stressed that Fire Up the Blades would be "darker, tighter and more dangerous" than their Roadrunner Records debut.[1] "This album is heavily influenced by low quality beer, bong rips and listening to black metal in the dark," says Hooper. "It doesn't sound blatantly black metal, it still sounds like us. But it's a faster, more intense version of us."[2]

A sampler containing demo versions of "The Goatriders Horde" and "Night Marauders" began circulating the Internet in March 2007. This sampler may have been bootlegged however, as a demo version of "Night Marauders" was previously released that January on a free CD issued with that month's edition of Metal Hammer magazine. The demo of "The Goatriders Horde" was also most likely ripped from a stream of the song which was made available on Roadrunner Records' website.

On at least one occasion since the firing of drummer Alexei Rodriguez, the band has performed live with Jordison as drummer.[3]

Lyrical themes

Track listing

All tracks are written by 3 Inches of Blood and Joey Jordison.

No.TitleLength
1."Through the Horned Gate"2:07
2."Night Marauders"4:15
3."The Goatriders Horde"4:02
4."Trial of Champions"3:39
5."God of the Cold White Silence"4:24
6."Forest King"5:16
7."Demon's Blade"4:10
8."The Great Hall of Feasting"3:53
9."Infinite Legions"4:55
10."Assassins of the Light"3:20
11."Black Spire"5:23
12."The Hydra's Teeth"4:49
13."Rejoice in the Fires of Man's Demise"1:33
B-sides
No.TitleLength
1."Key to Oblivion"4:09
2."Nocturnal Command"5:21
3."Diamonds of the Black Chest" (Running Wild cover)3:04

Personnel

Release history
Country Release Date
Japan May 28, 2007 (2007-05-28)
Worldwide June 26, 2007 (2007-06-26)

References
  1. "Blabbermouth.net - 3 INCHES OF BLOOD Working On 'Darker, Tighter And More Dangerous' New Album". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  2. "Indie911 - 3 Inches of Blood". Indie911. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  3. 3 Inches of Blood - Trial of Champions (with Joey Jordison) on YouTube
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