The demo attracted the attention of Leviathan Records, but activity was put on hold when Gus was hired by Dream Evil and Mystic Prophecy.
After the release of his other bands' debut albums, Gus' attention returned to the Firewind project. Only he remained from the original formation - Leviathan owner David T. Chastain brought in vocalist Stephen Fredrick and drummer Brian Harris (both ex-Kenziner), while Gus enlisted the help of bassist Konstantine, a fellow Greek. this line-up recorded the debut album Between Heaven and Hell.
In 2003, new changes were instituted as Norwegian drummer Stian Kristoffersen and Greek bassist Petros Christo joined the band. Harris and Konstantine had been replaced as Gus was looking for a more permanent rhythm section that was prepared to tour. This line-up recorded Burning Earth and went on a tour of Japan with Rob Rock, but without vocalist Stephen Fredrick, who was not prepared to go on the road (despite prior guarantees to the contrary). His replacement on the Burning the Earth Tour, the Sri Lankan singer Chitral 'Chity' Somapala, was given the job full-time. Fellow touring member Bob Katsionis was also hired permanently to play keyboards. Firewind got a worldwide deal with Century Media by the end of that year.
This line-up recorded the album Forged By Fire, but a few months after the release, Chity left due to personal and musical differences with the rest of the band. When his replacement, Apollo Papathanasio of Time Requiem, was found, it was also announced that Stian Kristoffersen would be leaving, to be replaced with the veteran Mark Cross. The reason for the split was that Gus wanted to have a set of Greek-based musicians willing to make Firewind their number one priority (probably to end the virtual revolving door of members) and Stian's main band was the Norwegian outfit Pagan's Mind. Gus also left his roles in Dream Evil, Mystic Prophecy and Nightrage between 2004 and 2006.
This new line-up recorded the album Allegiance, which was released in July 2006.
During November - December 2006, they toured the UK supporting Dragonforce with All That Remains.
In 2009, Gus G. became Ozzy Osbourne's guitar player.
In 2010 Apollo became the new Spiritual Beggars frontman.
In 2010, Michael Ehre replaced drummer Mark Cross.
In 2010, Michael Ehre left and was replaced by Johan Nunez (also Nightrage)
Line-up
* Herbie Langhans - Vocals (also Avantasia and Radiant)
* Gus G. (Kostas Karamitroudis) - Guitars (formerly Keyboards)
* Petros Christo - Bass
* Johan Nunez - Drums (also Nightrage)
Former members
* Brandon Pender - Vocals (1998)
* Stephen Fredrick - Vocals (2001-2003)
* Chitral Somapala - Vocals (2004-2005)
*Apollo Papathanasio - Vocals (2005-2013)
*Henning Basse - Vocals (2015-2020)
* Bob Katsionis - Keyboards, live Guitar (2004-2020)
* Konstantine (Kostas Exarhakis) - Bass (2001-2003)
* Matt Scurfield - Drums (1998)
* Brian Harris - Drums (2001-2003)
* Stian L. Kristoffersen - Drums (2003-2005)
* Mark Cross - Drums (2005 - 2010)
* Michael Ehre - Drums (2010)
Discography
* Nocturnal Symphony (Demo, 1998)
* Between Heaven and Hell (2002)
* Burning Earth (2003)
* Forged By Fire (2005)
* Allegiance (2006)
* The Premonition (2008)
*Days of Defiance (2010)
*Few Against Many (2012)
*Immortals (2017)
*Firewind (2020)
Warrior
Firewind Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Land and kin, is everything, their only god is war
Hear of the ages when war was the world
An honor to die by the sword
Eons pass, the tales are told
Battlefields have all grown cold
Spirits soar to (the) most on high
The nether world their bodies lie
Legends on the warriors, hail to the glory of
Honor bound, too profound, the soldier's unbroken code
Kings and queens, castle keep, sacred ground they hold
Warriors of old, their glories be told
Warriors of old, hail to the glory of
Their glories be told, warriors of old
The lyrics to Firewind's "Warrior" depict the legendary warriors of old, who are born of blood, fire, and steel. Their love for their land and kin is so great that their only god is war. The song speaks of an era when war was the world, and it was an honor to die by the sword, with stories of these warriors echoing through the ages.
Despite the passage of eons, the tales of these warriors remain alive, and the elders sing of their glory. This song glorifies the warriors of old, whose spirits soar to the most high, with their bodies resting in the netherworld. The phrase "Legends on the warriors hail to the glory of" highlights their honorable and noble character, as they were honor-bound by a soldier's unbroken code, with their kings and queens guarding the sacred grounds.
Overall, "Warrior" pays homage to the traditional soldier's mindset, their bravery, code of honor, and the sacrifices they made for their people. These warriors were fearless, unstoppable, and their tales continue to inspire and live on, even as the battlefields have grown cold.
Line by Line Meaning
Born of blood, mysterious, fire and steel their loves
These warriors are fierce and passionate, born into a life of violence and strength.
Land and kin, is everything, their only god is war
The warriors prioritized their families and home above all else, and believed that the only way to honor them was through constant battle and conflict.
Hear of the ages when war was the world
The song suggests that there was a point in time when war was the primary and constant focus of human existence.
An honor to die by the sword
The warriors believed that dying in battle was a noble and honorable fate.
Eons pass, the tales are told
As time goes on, the stories of these ancient warriors have only grown in legendary status.
Battlefields have all grown cold
The time of constant warfare has long passed and the battlefields are now empty and quiet.
Elders sing of warriors, hail to the glory of
Even in the present day, these warriors are highly respected and celebrated.
Spirits soar to (the) most on high
The warriors are believed to have ascended to a higher spiritual plane after their death, as a reward for their service in battle.
The nether world their bodies lie
While their spirits may have gone to a higher place, their physical bodies have been buried on earth.
Legends on the warriors, hail to the glory of
These warriors are remembered as legends, and are still revered for their bravery and fighting spirit.
Honor bound, too profound, the soldier's unbroken code
The warriors had a strict code of honor that they followed, one that went beyond surface-level values and reflected a deeper connection to their duty and mission.
Kings and queens, castle keep, sacred ground they hold
The warriors fought to protect the land and people under the rule of their kings and queens, and considered their castles and fortresses to be sacred and valuable.
Warriors of old, their glories be told
The song pays tribute to these warriors of the past, and acknowledges the importance of remembering and retelling the stories of their feats and accomplishments.
Warriors of old, hail to the glory of
Once again, the song praises these ancient warriors and honors the impact they had on the world in which they lived.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRAHAM OLIVER, PAUL QUINN, PETER BYFORD, STEPHEN DAWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrIztli
Every time I hear this it hypes me up! Amazing work! I remember picking this album out of the blue at Amoeba Music. What a cool ass surprise.
@pedrofelippe8716
Gus has magical fingers on guitars. He shreds like a beast. I can never get enough of his solos.
@stephenevington6431
Yes a very good band wish I could see these live rock on firewind 👍👍
@panagiotiskaroutas6859
A hidden gem! in an amazing album!
@feueforosan6578
I'm happy that Legends like Firewind made my childhood Rock, I just really wish I could see these guys concert. WishList <3
@user-fc4yv5db4y
🤩
@koulisterkenlis5457
I remember walking to school listening to this aloud through my mobile phone speaker, wishing for someday having my guitar heros' (Gus G + Laiho) guitar-playing skills...
@RobertWeingher
This album will always be one of my favorite Firewind albums, i saw Firewind live only once in 2008 in germany, the crowd was so dense i could barely raise one hand over my head, it was a totally crazy show, good luck to you mr. Gus G with the live shows with mr. Paul Dianno.
@jame4s2581
I remember when i started to listen to this when i was young, feels good to bring back so many good memories ☺
@drewjsmalls
So tight and so Metal!! Love the Riff and the harmony vocals on the chorus !! And of course your lead as usual !! 20 Year anniversary!! Awesome job Gus G !!!!💯💥💥💯