Crossfire

Before we get into the actual music there's two positive things worthy of notice with Malaysian CROSSFIRE's sophomore release: 1. it has a proper picture sleeve and 2. it isn't nearly as rare and unobtainable as their less visually striking debut. In fact I'd rate is as one of the more common Mal/Sin Metal vinyls together with Saxo and Brainwash. Now let's see if it's also worth a listen...

They start out with a Bang! ...or rather 2 bangs, as both the opening title track and the following "Balasan" prove that they've gone in a slightly heavier direction here. The former by being a mighty Heavy, pounting hit with a fierce lead riff setting the sails for the journey ahead, and the latter by being an energetic, fast Powerbanger armed with a mandatory Catchy Chorus. Ignoring two ballad fillers we are left with "Fanatik" as the last of the heavier songs on side A. Unfortunately it's a bit of a filler as well, and merely serves up some plodding rockmetal pulp.

Things quickly catches up on side B with another 2 *bangs* in the form of the heavy and rumbling, Manowar-meets-Rising Force "Lagenda Gunung Ledang", followed by the similar but slightly more uptempo "Kuku Besi". There's a bit of a US Metal-vibe to this one, but with more Asian Melancholy in the vocals. We skip the final schmallad with a joyous stride as it proves they've maintained the impressive 3-to-7 ballads-v/s-real-songs ratio from the debut, gives a polite nod to "Fikirkan", the ample but anonymous second melo-Metalrocker on the album and sink our teeth in the excellent farwell that is "Kuasa Mistik". It's the most atmospheric piece of the album, with a soaring chorus rubbing shoulders with the best and most epic Queensrÿche numbers from the latter part of the 80's.

In comparative conclusion, "Erosi" is of almost equal weight and goodness to the finest albums of Junction and Handy Black, though certainly not as unique as the likes of Belantara, Lovingborn, Lipanbara or Viking. It does however possess one quality that tops the majority of those LPs and makes it a worthwile want list addition: It's Findable.