Band formed in the United States presents new musical and lyrical airs to symphonic metal
Symphonic and orchestrated elements, allied to the weight of heavy metal, is an old formula that continues to conquer fans all over the world. Formed in the United States by the musician Caio Kehyayanthe band Firewing gained attention by bringing dense lyrical narratives, resulting in a huge return to their debut album, Resurrection (2022).
Its emergence came from a young guitarist who was looking for musical improvement and a way to express himself. “At the age of 16, I created the concept of duality between Ember and Vishap. With that, I wrote the first song of my life: ‘Resurrection’. The following year, I entered the Berklee College of Music and finished composing the debut album“, account.
Expanding symphonic metal, “Resurrection” got great reception, for the music and complex themes, which revolve around a story about two legendary mystical creatures, Vahagn and Vishap, who are the roots of life and creation of all humanity.
Led by Kehyayan, the group proved to be very collaborative, bringing, on the first album, special guests like Bill Hudson (North Tale), Jenn Sakura It is Haydée Irizarry (Aversed, Carnivora). Now, they take a new step by reformulating their structures.
Even with the good results, they continued working, and entered 2023 with the single, “Time Machine”, a re-recording, now with the new vocalist, Jota Fortinho. “It was the most acclaimed song by fans. It brings together our main elements, as it recounts the awakening of Vahagn – a great warrior and king of the Armenian dynasty of the 5th century AD, receptacle of the ancestral powers of Ember (Phoenix of hope) who, moved by the anguish of losing the love of his life in a dark ritual performed by Vishap (dragon of darkness from Armenian mythology), seeks to transmute his soul through meditation, to access the portal of the past and find and rebuild his former reality”, clarifies Gaius.
“This song was chosen to be re-released with Jota’s vocals, as it represents the real meaning of a time machine: the restart of a new journey”, he completes.
The guitarist’s and Firewing’s relationship with the Armenian culture is quite solid. “Honoring these people is the purpose of my path. My connection comes from my ancestors, who fled Armenia as a result of the ‘Armenian massacre’, which took place between 1915 and 1917, leaving more than 1.5 million dead. Today, there are more Armenians around the world than in their own country.”reflects.
This deep relationship is echoed in “Last Gasp”, which brings new sides to the band’s musical spectrum, mixing sounds and verses. “The structure of this composition was based on cinematographic scenes, approaching the configuration of a short film, and brings a complete immersion to the first great war between the Eons (beings that possess the flame of life) and Vishap, detailing the moment that the same performs the ‘ritual of eternal death’, with the help of Hades, god of death in Greek mythology. He maximizes his soul-absorbing powers and all those absorbed are trapped within the Holy Crystal, which keeps them imprisoned for eternity, fueling their obscurity.“, reveals.
As much as he bets on a more far-fetched aspect of heavy metal, Kehyayan proves to be versatile, even being summoned by the band Vital Remains to perform live. As sound can unfold in different ways, transiting through other views of the world brought him new visions, which impacted his work.
“The experience of traveling the world with Vital Remains has been very enriching. After playing in several different continents and countries, I was able to see firsthand how the culture of other peoples completely influence the sound of these regions. It broadened my perspective as a songwriter, and these experiences and influences are embedded in ‘Last Gasp’“, it says.
Watch the video for “Last Gasp”:
Expanding creatively is the order of this journey. “I’m working as composer and conductor of the American musical Rusted Stars, created by Rohan Jain. I’m exploring new musical textures and cinematic sound effects from the most comprehensive”, he boasts.
Creating, composing, recording and marketing new music are important elements in the career of a professional musician, but it is on stage that the reach of his works increases exponentially.
With that in mind, Firewing has plans in place: in March, they share the stage with the Finnish group Sonata Arctica, in concerts throughout Brazil. After that, Caio envisions the process of creating and recording a new album. “We will enter an extensive period of composition and expansion of the concept. We will present a new generation of characters from the current protagonists“, ends.
Check out the band’s interview at the Rolling Stone Brasil studio:
Content by Hoffmann O´Brian
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
