Allegiance (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Allegiance
Type = Album
Artist = Firewind


Released = July 10, 2006
Recorded = JM Studio, Mölnlycke, Sweden February 2006
Genre = Power metal
Length = 48:37
Label = Century Media
Producer = Gus G.
Reviews =
* "Allmusic" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0vfoxqwdld0e link]
* "HCS.net" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.hardcoresounds.net/modules.php?name=Band_List&file=cdviewer&func=3059 link]
* "Kerrang!" Rating|4|5Fact|date=August 2008
Last album = "Forged By Fire"
(2005)
This album = "Allegiance"
(2006)
Next album = "The Premonition"
(2008)
Misc = Singles
Name = Firewind
Type = Album
Single 1 = Falling to Pieces
Single 1 date = June 13, 2006
Single 2 = Breaking the Silence
Single 2 date = July 2, 2007

"Allegiance" is the fourth full-length studio album by Firewind, first released on July 10, 2006. Vocalist Chity Somapala was replaced by Apollo Papathanasio and Stian L. Kristoffersen made way for Mark Cross on drums ending the previous tradition of changing line-up between albums. It was recorded at JM Studio, Mölnlycke, Sweden in February 2006, mixed by Fredrik Nordström with Patrik J. Sten in Studio Fredman, Göteborg, Sweden, March 2006 then mastered by Peter In de Betou at Tailor Maid productions in Stockholm.

Release history

"Allegiance" was initially released in Greece on July 10, 2006 almost a fortnight before the rest of the world. It was later released in Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy on July 21, 2006 and three days later on July 24, 2006 in the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Norway and most of the rest of Europe and finally in Finland, Sweden and Hungary a further two days later on July 26, 2006. [An E-card about the Allegiance Album [http://ecard.centurymedia.com/firewind/firewind2.html ecard.centurymedia.com] , Cited 9 October 2007]

ingles and promotion

A month before the album's release, on June 13, 2006 the "Falling to Pieces" maxi single was released to the Greek market, with a music video directed by Patric Ullaeus, and peaked at #11 in the Greek Singles Charts. Approximately 5 weeks later the album was released and peaked at the same position in the Greek Album Charts. [Firewind.gr news update Date|2006-07-31, Cited 8 March 2008] Then following the "Inhuman Rampage" tour with DragonForce and their own "World Allegiance" tour they released their second single off the album, "Breaking the Silence" almost a year later on July 2, 2007, again only physically to Greece with a video directed by Patric Ullaeus guest starring Tara Teresa, [Firewind.gr news update Date|2007-06-14, Cited 8 March 2008] this time peaking at #16 in the Greek Singles Charts. [Firewind.gr news update Date|2007-08-08, Cited 8 March 2008]

Track listing

tracklist
collapsed= |headline=
lyrics_credits=yes |music_credits=yes
title1=Allegiance |music1=Gus G. |lyrics1=Gus G., Papathanasio, Cross |length1=4:41
title2=Insanity |music2=Gus G., Katsionis |lyrics2=Papathanasio, Gus G. |length2=4:29
title3=Falling to Pieces |music3=Gus G. |lyrics3=Papathanasio |length3=4:03
title4=Ready to Strike |music4=Gus G., Katsionis |lyrics4=Papathanasio |length4=4:35
title5=Breaking the Silence |music5=Gus G., Katsionis |lyrics5=Tara, Papathanasio, Cross |length5=4:03
title6=Deliverance |music6=Gus G. |lyrics6=Gus G. |length6=6:07
title7=Till the End of Time |music7=Katsionis |lyrics7=Gus G., Papathanasio |length7=4:36
title8=Dream Chaser |music8=Cross |lyrics8=Cross |length8=4:07
title9=Before the Storm |music9=Katsionis, Gus G. |lyrics9=— |length9=3:42
title10=The Essence |music10=Gus G. |lyrics10=Gus G., Papathanasio |length10=4:19
title11=Where Do We Go from Here? |music11=Papathanasio, Gus G. |lyrics11=Papathanasio |length11=3:57
note9=Instrumentaltracklist
collapsed= |headline=Japanese Bonus tracks
writing_credits=yes |total_length=57:48
title12=Healing Tool |writer12=Papathanasio, Cross |length12=4:43
title13=Demon Nights |writer13=Katsionis, Gus G. |length13=4:23
note12=
note13=tracklist
collapsed= |headline=Video clip enhancements
title14=Falling to Pieces |length14=3:20
title15=The Firewind Documentary small|2005/2006 |length15=17:26
note14=Director & Producer: Patric Ullaeus
note15=Editor: Bob Katsionis

Personnel

Band members

* Apollo Papathanasio – vocals
* Gus G. – guitars
* Babis Katsionis – keyboards
* Petros Christodoylidis – bass
* Mark Cross – drums, backing vocals on "Allegiance"

Guest musicians

* Tara Teresa – vocals on "Breaking the Silence"
* Markus Palsson – backing vocals on "Allegiance" and "The Essence"

Technical staff

* Fredrik Nordström – engineering, mixing
* Patrik J. Sten – mixing assistant
* Martin Kronlund – additional engineering
* Rickard Bengtsson – vocal coach, additional engineering on "Insanity" and "Falling to Pieces"
* Peter In de Betou – mastering
* Patric Ullaeus – photography, producer and director of the video clip for "Falling to Pieces"
* Carsten Drescher – artwork

Footnotes

External links

* [http://firewind.gr/ Firewind's official website] [http://www.firewind.gr/index.asp .]