After The Fire Scottsboro AL

After The Fire

Pharaoh

Cruz Del Sur Music, 2003

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/28/2003

Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden.

Need a shot of it, but don't have Number of the Beast or Piece of Mind handy? I bring good news... Pharaoh formednear Philadelphia in November of 1997.

I have been longing for a release like this: a band that playshomage to the great Iron Maiden, while maintaining their ownidentity. This band could have easily slipped onto any one of theIron Maiden tribute CDs that have come my way (Dwell Records' A Call to Irons or Meteor City Records' Slave to the Power come to mind.) Of course, if you aregoing to enter into the realm that Iron Maiden has immortalized,you have to do the material right.

That means searing vocals that don't go out of tune when holdingnotes. No problem. That means drums that provide a foundation. Noproblem. If anything, drummer Chris Black provides a moreprogressive metal feel to this material. The guitar riffs have tobe interesting and the accompanying guitar solos have to expand thesong into a new realm. Satisfied that requirement as well.