Fireball Ministry - Second Great Awakening

The members of hard rock trio Fireball Ministry - E. Burton, J. Rota, and H. Storer - christened themselves with religious titles (bishop, reverend, and sister, respectively) in keeping with their band name, and issued their debut album, Ou Est La Rock?, in 1999 on Bong Load Records. This is their second release on the Nuclear Blast label. For fans of Fu Manchu and Nebula. 11 tracks. 2003. Album Description

True rock & roll awakening

Shortly after moving to Atlanta in 2004, I caught my first show at the Masquerade. The show was Dio, Anthrax (back when John Bush was still in the band), and Fireball Ministry, who I had never heard before. I arrived midway through their set, so as soon as I walked through the door my jaw dropped and I gravitated towards the stage. Fireball Ministry's monster Sabbath/Soundgarden riffs hit me like a truck, but the melodic elements of their sound had me nodding along in no time. When I finally made it to the front I had to do a double take. Was this crazy heavy, thundering stoner rock guitar and bass sound being played by chicks? How is that possible? I know I'm being sexist, but how often do ladies deliver this kind of tough-as-nails rock?

Needless to say the band made quite an impression on me. As good as Dio and Anthrax were that night, what I went home thinking about was Fireball Ministry's set. I picked up The Second Great Awakening a few days later and was thrilled to find that the energy and power the band had on stage was firmly in place on their studio releases. The doomy riffs, driving rhythms, and melodic songwriting make the album as catchy as it is heavy. Songs like In the Mourning and Rollin' On sound like Master of Reality b-sides, and show a clear appreciation for the early Sabbath sound, and the rest of the album is just as impressive.

The Second Great Awakening is an always heavy, never boring, slab of guitar rock that should please anyone who's into bands like (early) Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Cathedral, (later) Corrosion of Conformity, Brand New Sin, and Black Stone Cherry. It flat-out rocks, and that's really all that matters.
August 23, 2008

Definitely worth picking up

I just became aware of the band recently and picked up this album. Honestly, they could pass as a Sabbath cover band pretty easily. The vocals are almost dead-on Ozzy with a bit more of a "grrunt" sound. That being said - they do it extremly well. This album is full of hooks - and that's what won me over. The songs get stuck in your head. Definitely worth picking up. October 10, 2006

COULD HAVE BEEN A CLASSIC SABBATH ALBUM

I ordered this album online after getting the recommendation, and listing to some of the online sample tracks. The riffs, and particularly, the vocals are eerily reminiscant of classic Ozzy Sabbath, fitting between the "Technical Ecstasy" and "Never Say Die" releases, and actually, much better than both. Any fan of classic late-era Ozzy Sabbath and Deep Purple should give this disc a listen. April 27, 2006

Gotta have more cowbell!

I love this sound!

It is a nice amalgam of Sabbath and early Monster Magnet.

Is it the most origional thing in the world? No.

But it is very good at what it is and it totally fit the
bill for what i wanted to hear.

If you like BLS, or other rather anthemy style metal,
with cool vocals, good hooks and a liberal dose of cowbell
then snap it up!

If you hate bands that sound a little like Sabbath,
Motorhead, or very early Kiss, stay away from this.

Better than Circus of Power, better than Whitchfinder General
and better than the last Ozzy Record :-) January 24, 2006

Finally! Rock is alive, and kicking

At a time when the great rock bands are starting to show their age, and all the newer bands are caught up in the "Music Industries deathtrap"; a glimmer of light has appeared on the horizon.

If you're looking for the emotional power ballads, and pretty boy front men, go see if Poison has put out another greatest hits album. This isn't for you.

However, if your idea of music is jacking up the volume, and having your teeth blasted down your throat by a band that rocks with a vengeance, welcome home.

I can't remember hearing a new band with such an in your face, solid rock delivery since the earlier days of Motorhead. If you're a serious rock fan, you will not be disappointed. December 25, 2005

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