Glenn Proudfoot is an Aussie guitar prodigy who has been blinding aficionados of the six-string with his blistering skills across the nation and the planet for quite some time now.
On Fire & Rain, he steps out into the vocal-oriented heavy-rock arena and, as you would expect from someone with his prodigious technical and songwriting prowess, he pulls it off with aplomb.
What strikes the listener, beyond the obvious guitar wizardry, is the variety on display here. The album shifts up and down from anthemic rock to ballads, to poppier stuff to more experimental material, with plenty in between, on a ten-cent piece. All while retaining a compelling, end-to-end cohesiveness.
As for his vocals, what they lack in range they more than make up for in passion of delivery. Proudfoot's voice oozes raw emotion. Another bonus is the precision pounding of Cog skinsman Lucius Borich, who lays down the groove and thunders around the kit with controlled fury.
Fire & Rain is a real treat, for guitar lovers and for those who appreciate powerful, well-written rock music.
