Now that labels such as AOR/Metal Heaven and MTM Music have largely switched over to releasing (mostly mediocre) heavy metal albums – which is actually quite sad – it feels good that we still have labels such as Escape Music and Frontiers Records. Every now and then they also release something in the metal field, but the bulk of their releases is still in the AOR/melodic hard rock vein and I can only welcome that stubborness.
What we have here with “Baptism By Fire”, is not only one of the best AOR albums in quite some time, I’m pretty sure it will end up high in our poll at the end of the year as well. Three years of hard work went in the writing and producing of it and both gentlemen, Tommy Denander and Fergie Frederiksen, can look back upon it with pride. Dennis ‘Fergie’ Frederiksen was lead vocalist on classic albums such as Toto’s “Isolation”, Le Roux’ “So Fired Up” and Trillion’s debut album, while Tommy Denander became renowned as an excellent songwriter and producer, have played on an impressive number of at least 1,000 albums.
Radioactive was the place where the pair found each other and soon a plan was devised to make an album together. Songs were written with the help of Styx’s Ricky Phillips (with whom Fergie recorded the Fredriksen/Phillips album in 1995), Pride Of Lions’ Jim Peterik and Björn Lindbom (Tommy’s songwriting partner on many albums of the past) and believe me: all of them are soooo good! Impressive material asks for equally impressive musicians and nobody will deny that the gentlemen who were asked to join in, are big names as well. And in case you don’t know Eric Z Daniel, let me whisper in your ear that you will soon hear a lot more of him, because he has worked together on soon to be released albums from Robin Beck, Jimi Jamison and Radioactive!
Twelve tracks in total, clocking in at 53:40, is just the right portion of AOR that we all needed. I could write something about every single track, but that would be dull to read and so I confine myself to saying that all of them are brilliant AOR gems full of magnificent hooks and excellent musicianship. While listening (over and over again), I had to think of (classic) Journey on many occasions. So, well done, gentlemen and congratulations to Frontiers Records for delivering yet another quality album that reminds us of those (almost) faded AOR days. My album of the first half of 2007, definitely!!! (CL)
 

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Modulator (on 19/04/08) Great album!   MAU (on 18/09/07) Great music, great performances of both, Fergie is in his best moment, and Denander with his melodic solos creates an excellent atmosphere. Frederiksen/Denander is the Melodic Rock Record that many of us, have had waiting for many years, probably a good contender for the best album of the year, by the other hand I agree that there are two tunes that doesn´t work at equal as the rest of the material, but even those songs aren´t bad I like more than Pride of Lions debut, more than Sunstorm and more than Falling in Between´s Toto, maybe is a matter of taste. I have heard listening this cd for one week completely¡¡¡   HIBA (on 6/08/07) I agree with Rkblues on this one, production-wise it could've been better. Here's a problem Frontiers should really be working on !!!! The songs however are fine overall, no classic but certainly one of the highlites of this (aor)year.   rkblues (on 5/07/07) Good CD but not worthy of a 6/6 review...Tommy D. smokes on this one and Fergie sounds as good as ever...still as with a lot of Frontiers the production could of been better...but this CD is still a good one well worth buying if your a Tommy D or Fergie fan...still though compared to Radioactive "Yeah" it falls a little short.   banaan (on 30/06/07) Like with the radioactive cd, this one gets raving reviews, but I still don't hear it/feel it. Fergie Frederiksen sounds great as ever but the guitar playing ruins it for me. Dont' get me wrong, this is a decent hardrock cd but not as great as many state.   scribbly (on 14/06/07) Six stars? Really? I like Tommy's stuff a lot, but this is not a 10/10 effort. Even Tommy would admit to that. The ratings here are really dodgy.   Grepol (on 13/06/07) If you have followed Tommy Denanders work the last couple of years or so you know what to expect. This project is no different. It has all the elements of his previous work. On one side that is a good thing. The overall quality is always good. He has a certain style and idea what his projects should sound like and he sticks to that formula. On the other side I would wish he would use some outside help on certain areas. The fact is that he does a lot of things by himself which means that his projects are sometimes a bit repetitve (production, keys, mix). I hope that he can develop himself on this areas or take up some help from others. I still think he can do much better things. "Baptism By Fire" is a welcome new album but don't think it's Denander best work to date.   Stefantyketto (on 13/06/07) Some of the metal fans here on RR, such as jimbodelux, they could never appreciate pure AOR gems like this one. I personally believe that you just can’t evaluate a record you haven’t even heard! And all these in a two lines malicious review which is accusing for softness an album without a ballad and full of up-tempo rockers!! Now let’s get to the point. If we overlook a couple of songs, we’re facing a peerless class album. An album based on grandiose hooklines, bombastic choruses, in-your-face keyboards and astonishing guitar solos by the great Tommy Denander. “Baptism by Fire” has got almost everything we love, plus a fantastic Fergie Frederiksen who sings up to his limits. As for the production? Well one thing must be told: giant. I agree that the lack of ballads for some it could be a weak point, but let’s focus in the fact that this release is on fire and the rhythm is so impetuous that almost leaves you breathless. Anthems like “Let Him Go”, “Right Heart, Wrong Time”, “Silver Lining”, “Crossing Over”, “Written In Stone”, “Saving Grace”, Baptism By Fire”, “Never Try To Love Again” and “Left With Nothing” don’t come around too often. Denander made a smasher; he created the absolute summertime soundtrack. Hear it now!   jimbodelux (on 12/06/07) Way too soft Aston? Yes, It also is my opinion. I nearly fell asleep, listening to this one. But I admit: it's just matter of taste   Steel Jockey (on 11/06/07) Disagree with Geras and agree with the review. Tommy delivered what the aor community was expecting. Nothing more nothing less. Sure a couple of the songs are less good, but 6-7 real crowd pleasers mean the album is one of the year's best AOR releases. And what to say about Mr.Frederiksen? Well you just have to sit back and enjoy...the man is just awesome on this release. His melodies shine like a beacon. 6/6 might be a touch to much but it's nearly there! 5.75/6!!!   gerasczman (on 9/06/07) Chris has written many excellent reviews so far , but it's one of the few times that I have to disagree with him. Compared to the melodic masterpiece "Taken" by Radioactive , "Baptism by fire" is very poor . In fact , a big disappointment for me ! Uninspired , AOR by numbers , without passion, with a monotonous production . Maybe Chris has been carried away by his enthusiasm..It certainly isn't worth of a 6/6 rating..This is a rate for classic albums! Speaking of AOR , that would be the rate for "Vital Signs'' , "Escape" ,"Loud and clear'' by Signal , "Toto's 1st","Fortune","Foreigner 4", "Pride Of Lions 1st" , "Out of Silence" ,"Asia" etc "Baptism by Fire" will be easily forgotten I'm afraid..   Jez (on 8/06/07) If you have liked Tommy Denander's previous works (I include myself big time on this) then this Frederiksen-Denander project is bound to appeal. This maybe a point that some people won't like about it, as It doesn't exactly tread any new boundaries sound/songwise and does sound very similar to a few of his other projects, Radioactive especially. That being said, Fergie sings as well as I have heard in a long time,Tommy plays some blinding solos as ever and there are some excellent tunes here as well, all expertly played and produced. Definately an album I will play regularly, as with Tommy's other albums, but if you have not bothered with TD's stuff before, this won't change your mind either.   astonbob (on 6/06/07) toto was great back then but this is toooo soft for me. good production thou.   WOLF 359 (on 5/06/07) Amazing stuff and Fergie sing's like a God .

 

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