ASKA "FIRE EATER" Excerpted Review Quotes
5.5/6 points  "...if you haven't heard ASKA ever in recorded form, you are in for a real treat with these 11 tracks. George's vocals are pure, powerful, and gritty all in different waves, depending on the mood of the song. He reaches epic terrain on the culturally sound "Valhalla", and brings out a lot of David DeFeis screams on "Dead Again"- but can also convey a lot of bluesy, heartfelt restraint on the power ballad "Angela" that reminds me of Paul Shortino during his early Rough Cutt days.  ...Rarely do you find a band on album number six reaching their apex in a recording career, but "Fire Eater" is the best ASKA record to date. All those who love traditional metal in any way: old school or newcomers, buy or die!"
-Matt Coe, Eternal Terror


9/10 Stars
-Tommy Schmelz, Rock It!

"After listening to (the) seminal albums... Avenger and its successor Absolute Power, I thought that ASKA had reached their pinnacle. After listening to Fire Eater, however, it appears that the ASKA machine just keeps gaining more momentum and power and keeps on rolling with all cylinders firing." 
- Mark Vander Zanden, True Metal Lives


"(ASKA's) sixth marvel. 11 huge themes in the purest metal style, dressed with a touch of power metal in which the voice of George Call scores an incomparable victory for the band."
- Metal Final Ene
 
"Listening to this album has been like traveling to Valhalla. Awesome vocals & guitar solos. They know how to write a ballad too... just the way I like them"
- Jesus Penon, 2112 Estacian de Rock


5/5 stars
-Metal Fields


"The long awaited new album of US' finest. After the glorious shows in Germany (remember Swordbrothers, KIT, etc.) there was silence. Also George was out of Omen. But now they are back with a SCREAM of steel. This album combines some of the finest Heavy moments of the early albums with the power metal and epic of the newer days. Fantastic music for every real metalhead. If you don´t like this, you don´t like hard music! BUY OR DIE!!"
- Metalizer

"Fire Eater ...will once again signal trad warriors to the D/FW area with plumes of smoke emanating from their heavy metal, mother f’in’ inferno. Lead single “Dead Again”‘s title belies the fact this is vital, setting the table with the requisite silverware needed for a feast. Dual guitars crash head-on, twisting channel-separated segments of chords into power switch flicking spine-chillers. A balanced rhythm section is as unmovable as Stonehenge, locking down and securing the perfect pocket. And, the vocals are a bowl of Starbursts for the already-addicted, stoking a sugar rush with every Hagar-possessed-by-Coverdale yells.  “Dead Again” is a fine intro, reintroducing you to your smile, but “Everyone Dies” is a reason for living. The chugga-rugga-rugga-rugga linking together sustained stabs is a damn battle hymn, like swords tapping shields presaging a future fracas. Two minutes in, it drops the hammer, involuntarily gyrating your noggin to a Tad Morose-level dun dun. It’s the kind of build-up brought only by a vet. These dudes have done it without concessions. When metal cycles back into the primordial pool of unpopularity, we can hold up Fire Eater as the reason why craft will always be stronger than a big check."
- Ian, Trample The Weak


4/5 stars "ASKA cements their position and remains at the forefront of the genre. The quartet has delivered with "Fire Eater" a strong genre album that will be very difficult to best this year!"
-Thomas Patsch, Stormbringer

10/10 points
- The Metal Den


"As late babies ASKA have nevertheless earned a cult status in terms of U.S. Metal, not least because of charismatic frontman George Call, and some of their discs are high on the popularity scale. .... The quartet with the guitarist and vocalist Call ...consists also of Chris Menta on the ax and Keith Knight on bass and Danny White on drums. And precisely in this formation it has given us quite a fresh and clean eleven tracks bursting with steam and flame....  "Fire Eater" again is a really fast - powerful thing. Hot thanks for the recommendation to my headbanging colleague Marius !"
- Jochen von Arnim, Rocktimes


8.5/10 points  "ASKA are back. And how! " Fire Eater " is an album framed top to bottom, start to finish, with two of the absolute best songs and travels throughout to the highest level. All fans of the band will be more than satisfied. ...minor criticisms aside, at the highest level, " Fire Eater " in total is and remains a first-class U.S. Metal album. This album is a MUST-HAVE piece for the collection of any fan of the genre."
- Bruder Cle, Dark Scene

"The new ASKA in a few words? Heavy Metal! ...after having enjoyed a couple of George Call pieces on the last Warrion (album) I got a taste for the long haul and as usual, in "Fire Eater", they deliver.
-Maurizio Vecchi , Rock & Metal In My Blood


8.5/10 points "...in Greece we say that good things take their time and such is the case with “Fire Eater”.


...George Call’s voice is once again amazing ...  (A) heavy metal album that you don’t want to ignore. Trust me on that!
- Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis, Behind The Veil


8.5/10 points  "...Never was George Call more important as he is today, because his singing easily gives the songs a special magic.  ...ASKA are without question an institution when it comes to timeless metal steel production..."
- Jorg Muller, The Pit


"Probably only a very few U.S. metal fans would get a top 3 list of the best representatives of the genre to the glorious '80s without Texas-based ASKA on it.
For the past 23 years, the quartet inspired by the charismatic frontman George Call (ex-Omen) has delivered disks as "Nine Tongues" and "Avenger"  and in expert circles have long achieved cult status.
...Fire Eater" : Powerful as ever, with tons of fire and a passion, as one always knew of them. Melodic, undiluted heavy metal in a typical crisp, straight ASKA sound, with George's distinctive, slightly roughened and high power voice, perfectly used, high-pitched-Screams and some classic Maiden Twin Leads: Everything the true metallic heart desires is represented on this latest release. ...The Southerners always know how to consistently attracts the fans to their side! With "Fire Eater"  ASKA shows that classic U.S. Metal has lost none of its old magic....!
-Rockschoolradio


8/10 points  "...a mix of blazing, IRON MAIDEN inspired numbers, standing alongside infectious, mid-tempo songs that serve to highlight Call’s smooth voice... still kickin' my ASKA!"
- Mark Gromen, Brave Words


8/10 points  " ...we find them in better shape than ever with this "Fire Eater"... convincing in all aspects: welcome back, ASKA!"
-Renato de Filippis, Metal Head


8/10 points  "...It was worth eating fire for this one. Fire Eater packs within its treasure chest the true old school feel...  George Call really had me going there with these masterful vocal skills, such a versatile frontman.  ...one of the few 80s experiences that are still around to bash your skull..."
- Lior "Steinmetal" Stein, Metal Temple


8/10 points  "I wasn't waiting for this album, I did not look for this at all. In fact, I was indifferent to ASKA, but this newest release has definitely caught my attention and I think that it will fascinate or at least positively surprise all fans of traditional metal who are embedded in the 80s style heavy metal and hard rock."
- Pawe? Atrej Kowalewski, Metalzine


"Fire Eater" is...powerful with lots of drive and passion... Melodic and straight heavy metal with a typical ASKA sound, George’s distinctive, rough and high power-voice, perfectly placed high-pitched screams, and some classic Maiden-Twin-leads: everything that a metal fan might wish for can be found on this newest release."
- CromCarl, Metal Underground


7.85/10 points
- Metal Crawler


77/100 points  "this American band plays metal of the purest kind. That means that as a listener you get treated with melodic (power) metal, great (twin) guitar solos and a singer with a high voice. With a plethora of influences from Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. And I dont know why but I do not mind this time: the band uses all those influences in a good and honest way: 'Fire Eater' is a fine metal album. The logo, the album cover, the music, the song titles, the lyrics, the riffs, the vocals, the solos, everything about this band is old school metal. You've heard it all before, but in one way or another, the band fascinates me. Maybe that is because the band sounds sincere. Lets focus on a few songs: 'Valhalla' is a mix of Manowar and Iron Maiden that will do well when played live, 'Son Of God' is built around a fantastic Rainbow-like riff, 'Angela' is a beautiful semi-ballad and The Ripper is a beautiful tribute to one of the bands that obviously affected ASKA. Singer George Call has a voice that effortlessly gets to the high notes of Rob Halford. The fast (and heaviest song on this album) 'Eye Of The Serpent' closes this album in style. Those who swear by great (twin) guitars, pounding drums (with occasional fine double bass drums) and great vocals should definitely go and listen to ASKA. ...to me it brings back positive nostalgic feelings."
- Wim, Lords Of Metal 


7.5/10 points  "What to expect from "Fire Eater"? Classic U.S. Metal that is about to settle in the same division as senior Iced Earth albums.   Vocally, George Call convinces. His voice is powerful and able to sing high notes. The production is great. The greater numbers clearly outweigh the bad here."
- Fabian Blackout, Crossfire-Metal


7/10 points
-Power Metal

7/10 points  "The Texans, ASKA, are certainly among one of the great U.S. Metal bands! For 23 years, the guys have rallied around charismatic frontman, George Call (ex OMEN), and crafted magic in this genre.  ...I have before me now the new album, "Fire Eater"; Powerful as ever, with as much fire and a passion as they've ever known. Melodic, undiluted, heavy metal in typical crisp, straight ASKA fashion is presented to us on this new work. Add to that George's smoky power-voice and you have a U.S. Metal album that fans of this genre will support with certainty."
-Julian, Rock-Garage


7/10 points  "Fire Eater" is a work of pure Heavy Metal, traditionally inspired and sounding current while giving off a strong aroma of North-American school Metal with a very new and current production. The personal and seductive melodies intermingle with Metal passages that shoot direct for the skull. George's voice is raw, rough and powerful, with soul-searing highs. The guitars are pure vintage sound with IRON MAIDEN-like solos. The rhythms are highlighted by a potent bass as in the song "Son of a God" and efficacious drumming. Making things sound and feel epic is another factor that ASKA has mastered, giving songs like "Valhalla" victorious touches that promise to turn this number into a band hymn. As icing on the cake, we have a version of "The Ripper" from the legendary Judas Priest catalog. If you are a faithful follower of the U.S. Heavy Metal "classic-core", do not hesitate to give "Fire Eater" a chance, Consider this work ASKA's resurgence from the ashes."
- Sergio Fernandez, Queens of Steel



3.5/5 points  "I have nothing but the utmost admiration and respect for a band like ASKA. In my mind there is an elite group of American metal warriors, the true unsung heroes of the 90’s who were creating classic Metal in the ‘dark times’ of the 90’s. ...I’m delighted to see that ASKA is still going strong. FIRE EATER is the bands sixth album and while they may not have the big name recognition of global success of an Iced Earth for example, they are just as good in many respects. ...
 ASKA play a strain of metal so pure it hurts. From the chunky riffs, soaring vocals even down to the choice of cover tune (Priest’s ‘The Ripper’, about the 8th version I’ve heard of this classic cut) ASKA bleeds metal. The band has some sweet melodies on cuts like ‘Harlot of Eden’, and lots of speed on intensity across all the songs. There is also a hint of keyboard here and there but not very much. The solos are, in fact, deadly and ripping, most of the time. 
   It always makes me wonder why this band is not bigger. They have it all; a cool name, cool logo, great cover art and all the little extras that make a band jump from ‘good’ to ‘great’. On top of those extras the band is loaded with talent on an individual and group level. There is no reason why they should not be as big as the aforementioned Iced Earth and FIRE EATER is the sonic proof."
-JP, Metal Rules

3.5/5 stars  "ASKA have been an underground gem for so long it's almost proverbial.  ...Fire Eater is another disc of what ASKA do really well, and all the elements are here: strong trad metal riffs with a kick of hard rock machismo, ...and the absolutely first-rate vocals of frontman George Call, who has such a prototypical US-Metal wail he should trademark it."
- Sargon The Terrible, The Metal Crypt

3.5/5 points "Aska's Fire Eater is strong and entertaining traditional American heavy metal, with a few surprises thrown in. Recommended."
-Craig Hartranft, DangerDog Music Reviews

"...take these classic metal influences, infuse a slight hard rock sheen and the result is unapologetically retro, throwback music done so enthusiastically and sounding so damn metal, it’s tough to resist buying whatever they’re selling, even if you’re weary of old school fare.  ...Fire Eater feels even more vibrant and energetic than usual and contains some of their best material to date. ...It has big, ripping numbers like “Everyone Dies,” “Son of a God” and “Eye of the Serpent” which merge Unstoppable Force era Agent Steel with Halford’s Painkiller era histrionics and the results are worthy of a few sincere horns-held-high. The vocals by George Call are particularly powerful and when combined with big, heavy riffs, they surely get the point across with steely urgency.
The biggest win is the power and glory of “Valhalla” which is far more Manowar than anything the loinclothed ones have come up with in ages. It’s a big, brainless ode to Viking fury and the intrinsic beauty of dying with a broadsword shoved through your gut and Joey DeMaio should listen to it for a week before attempting to write anything remotely related to the next Manowar opus. Almost as good is the emotionally edgy tale of a shitty relationship in “Dead Again,” where Mr. Call sounds appropriately tortured, bitter and on track for a restraining order.   ASKA has always been a vehicle for George Call to show off his big vocal range and Fire Eater is no exception. He’s the center of attention as he belts out a manly mid-range punctuated with ear-splitting high notes and Halford-esque wails.  ...the guy bleeds metal and his commitment comes through on every song.... Definitely worth a spin for lovers of the glory days of U.S. metal."
- Steel Druhm, Angry Metal Guy

17/20 points  "ASKA are certainly one of the genre’s best on this showing."
-Justin Hulfurd, The Rocktologist

7/10 points  "The triumphant warriors have returned! ...and breathe fresh fire for us to consume."
- Michael "Mettleangel" Francisco, Metal Temple

70/100 points  "...you can’t deny that the strong identities of the individual songs as well as the diversity are two of the main strengths (of) this album. They’re also factors that make it possible to listen to the album multiple times in a row... a solid and interesting offering."
- Metal Squadron

7/10 points  "Filled with appealing arrangements, mandatory twin leads, as well as Call's crystal clear voice, the scene is set to enable fans of the band to enter discreetly into ecstasy."
- Metal.de

"A solid piece of U.S. Power Metal"
- Time For Metal