Fire Up the Blades

Infobox Album
Name = Fire Up the Blades
Type = studio
Artist = 3 Inches of Blood


Released = flagicon|Japan May 28, 2007
flagicon|World June 26, 2007
Recorded = November 2006 at Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia
Genre = Heavy Metal
Power metal
Speed metal
Length = 51:52
Label = Roadrunner Records
Producer = Joey Jordison
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:jbfuxze5ldse link]
*"Kerrang!" Rating|4|5
Last album = "Advance and Vanquish"
(2004)
This album = "Fire Up the Blades"
(2007)
Next album = "Trial of Champions"
(2007)
Misc = Singles
Name = Fire Up the Blades
Type = studio
single 1 = The Goatriders Horde
single 1 date = 2007

"Fire Up the Blades" is the third studio album by Canadian power metal band 3 Inches of Blood. It was released on June 26, 2007 by Roadrunner Records. 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. A demo of "The Goatriders Horde" which was recorded in Seattle in spring 2006 was later made available for streaming on Roadrunner's official website.

"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".cite web|title =Blabbermouth.net - 3 INCHES OF BLOOD Working On 'Darker, Tighter And More Dangerous' New Album|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=63696|accessdate=2006-12-12] This was not his first feat as producer overall however, as he produced several tracks on the 2005 Roadrunner Records artists collaboration album, "". 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 fired from the band six months later.

Background information

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.cite web|title =Blabbermouth.net - 3 INCHES OF BLOOD Working On 'Darker, Tighter And More Dangerous' New Album|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=63696|accessdate=2007-04-27|date=2006-12-12] "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 intenseversion of us."cite web|title =Indie911 - 3 Inches of Blood|publisher=Indie911|url=http://www.indie911.com/index.php?cID=3330]

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 Joey Jordison, who also produced the album, as drummer. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yon0boIPETs YouTube - 3 Inches of Blood - Trial of Champions (with Joey Jordison) ] ]

Track listing

# "Through the Horned Gate" – 2:07
# "Night Marauders" – 4:15
# "The Goatriders Horde" – 4:02
# "Trial of Champions" – 3:39
# "God of the Cold White Silence" – 4:24
# "Forest King" – 5:16
# "Demon's Blade" – 4:10
# "The Great Hall of Feasting" – 3:53
# "Infinite Legions" – 4:55
# "Assassins of the Light" – 3:20
# "Black Spire" – 5:23
# "The Hydra's Teeth" – 4:49
# "Rejoice in the Fire of Man's Demise" – 1:33

B-sides

* "Key to Oblivion" – 4:09
* "Nocturnal Command" – 5:21

ong meanings

* "Trial of Champions" is about an enslaved gladiator who fights his way to victory, and ultimately kills the emperor. This is a reference to the Fighting Fantasy game book of the same name, which features a similar plot.
* "Forest King" is about flora and fauna taking revenge on humanity.
* "The Great Hall of Feasting" is about the massive dining halls of Valhalla.
* "The Hydra's Teeth" refers to Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece.

Leak

On May 22, 2007, the entire album was leaked onto several peer-to-peer networks.

Personnel

* Cam Pipes – clean vocals
* Jamie Hooper – screaming vocals
* Justin Hagberg – guitars
* Shane Clark – guitars
* Nick Cates – bass
* Alexei Rodriguez – drums
* Joey Jordison – producer

References