This band received a lot of press in the metal world in support of the 2004 release, Advance and Vanquish. Most of the press was thanks to the track, "Deadly Sinners." The song appeared on numerous metal compilations and a video game. The band returns in 2007 with their latest release Fire up the Blades. Of the members featured on Advance and Vanquish, only vocalists Jamie Hooper and Cam Pipes remain. Would you know that when listening to Fire up the Blades? Probably not. The sound is very true to their previous releases. In fact, they may very well have improved upon their last album with this one. In light of recently meeting 3 Inches of Blood, I am very excited to review this album. I recently caught them at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI and met all of the members save for harsh vocalist Jamie Hooper. All nice guys. So that contributes to my already well-accumulated excitement.

* Cam Pipes - clean vocals
* Jamie Hooper - harsh vocalist
* Justin Hagberg - guitar
* Shane Clark - guitar
* Nick Cates - bass guitar
* Alexei Rodriguez - drums

1. Through the Horned Gate is the introduction to the album which leads into the next track. It features a guitar riff which is played over and over, with drums eventually setting in. Nice intro. (7/10)

2. Night Marauders is a very thrashy power metal song. It starts out with a scream from Cam Pipes and then some screams from Jamie Hooper. The song is very well done. It's fast, then slows done somewhat at times. The type of song that would make the mosh pit go crazy at a 3 Inches of Blood show. (8.5/10)

3. Goat Riders Horde is the first single from this album and probably one of the better tracks. The song continues the thrashy feel present on "Night Marauders." However, the song maintains its speed all the way through and is better done. The lyrics are VERY metal in the chorus "Impervious to fire, impervious to steel!" (10/10)

4. Trial of Champions opens with a guitar riff expected from a NWOBHM band. Very Saxon-esque. The song then makes its way into the thrashy power metal that 3 Inches of Blood is known for. (8/10)

5. God of the Cold White Silence is not as fast as the first two songs. Easily just as heavy though. The double bass sets this song off. The guitars are well done. However, Jamie Hooper is used too much in some places. Not a bad song, but not one of the better songs on the album. (7/10

6. Forest King is one of the best songs on this album, along with "Night Marauders" and "Goat Riders Horde." Headbangers will love this one. (9.5/10)

7. Demons Blade starts out with a riff that will remind you of Iced Earth. A great deal of tremolo is used, much in the same manner as Jon Schaffer. The song then goes into the sound that is expected of 3 Inches of Blood. (8/10)

8. Great Hall of Feasting is a very NWOBHM style song. Very much in the same manner as Saxon or On Through The Night-era Def Leppard, mixed with the insanely high vocals of Painkiller-era Judas Priest. (8/10)

9. Infinite Legions is the type of song that would make a moshpit go crazy at a show. Very, very, very thrashy. (8/10)

10. Assassins of the Light is the spitting image of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Everything an old school metal fan will love. (9/10)

11. Black Spire starts out with a great deal of twin lead guitars in front of a drum beat. The song never really goes anywhere. It maintains this feel throughout the song, but slows down a couple times. Not the best song on the album. (7/10)

12. The Hydras Teeth is a thrashy song and the last real song on Fire up the Blades. It shows more emphasis on vocalist Cam Pipes, which is a good thing. I like his vocals much better than Jamie Hooper's vocals. The guitar playing on the song is well done and the band sounds tight. (9/10)

13. Rejoice in the Fire of Man's Demise is an instrumental which sounds a great deal like Iron Maiden's "Where Eagles Dare." Finishes out the album nicely. (10/10)

I didn't think they could do it, but 3 Inches of Blood have topped their previous release, Advance & Vanquish. Sure, there's nothing on here quite as amazing as "Deadly Sinners," but the album is just an overall improvement. "Deadly Sinners" is to 3 Inches of Blood what "Rock And Roll All Nite" is to KISS; it is a song that they will always be well known for. On Fire up the Blades, you would never, ever, unless you saw the band live or looked at the lineup, or saw pictures of the band (which is inevitable), ever know that 3 Inches of Blood is sporting an entirely different lineup here. For most bands, that usually signals the end of a band's career. Not with 3 Inches of Blood. If anything, 3 Inches of Blood has benefited form the lineup change. I can guarantee that a damn good number of people will agree with that statement.

3 Inches of Blood

Iron Maiden

Judas Priest

NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal)