Line of Fire

Tribunal Records originally released LINE OF FIRE’s debut album in 2005 based simply on the fact that Journey is our favorite band. What we realized then was that LINE OF FIRE was as close as we were going to come to having Journey on our label, so we decided to sign them and throw possibly the biggest curve ball at our loyal and devout metallic hardcore label fanbase. To our surprise, we found out how much people still loved Journey and they happily embraced our newest band, LINE OF FIRE and their brand of classic melodic rock.

Besides LINE OF FIRE’s brilliant songwriting it may have also helped that vocalist, Shawn Pelata, was already well known in metalcore circles as being “Dr. Extremus Melodicus” the guest power metal vocalist featured on Killwhitneydead’s most popular albums (Suffer My Wrath, So Pretty So Plastic & Never Good Enough For You). Regardless, LINE OF FIRE’s debut album was universally accepted across the board by fans from all genres and critics raved about the album online and in print magazines.

Unfortunately, due distributor bankruptcy at the time Tribunal Records found itself in financial distress and was forced to delete some albums from it’s catalog and Line Of Fire fell victim to these troubled times.

Fast forward to 2008…Tribunal Records recovers and kick starts a new reissue division which actually specializes in melodic hard rock. We decided that it was time to reissue LINE OF FIRE’s debut album on Divebomb Records with a brand new mix and mastering job from original engineer, Jamie King. We have also added two new alternate mixes as bonus tracks. So now, we present the deluxe edition of Line Of Fire for all the fans, old and new, who love LINE OF FIRE as much as we do.

It was 5 years since LINE OF FIRE unleashed their debut album upon the unsuspecting masses. The band had planned to swiftly capitalize on the glowing success of Line Of Fire but when the sessions for Momentum began in 2006 it seemed that fate had other plans. Numerous personnel problems, sudden and life threatening health issues and other disruptive elements ran rampant throughout the LINE OF FIRE camp. It’s a miracle the band survived such tumultuous times.

But it’s been said that great music comes from great struggle and Momentum is the culmination of 5 years of very complicated and strenuous circumstances.  Despite the negative energies circulating during its conception, Momentum emerges as a bright light beaming from that dark period to carry the band forward and thrust them back into the spotlight of the AOR scene.

To help aid in the album’s completion, the band enlisted several session musicians (Killwhitneydead, The Demonstration, Hip Pocket) in addition to adding a new guitarist. Thomas Clark (Jonin) joined vocalist Shawn Pelata and guitarist Nikki Dimage as a permanent member of LINE OF FIRE and brought with him a new spark and creative insight. 

The resulting material doesn’t stray too far from the Melodic Rock formula for which the band is best known. Despite using digital technologies to track Momentum, the band wanted to draw influence from classic albums like Boston’s Boston and Journey’s Departure for a more raw and organic sound. A sound which producer Jamie King was easily able to deliver. Momentum is a standout Melodic Rock album through and through and should not disappoint any of the fans who have been waiting patiently for this long promised and much delayed sophomore album.