Review: Ross Harding- Fire Away
Reviewed By Matthew Nijland
South African Blues and Rock singer-songwriter, Ross Harding, once again proves to be a prolific and strong solo artist with the release of his rocking second single, ’Fire Away’, off his forthcoming solo EP, ‘Chapter II’.
‘Fire Away’ is a Hard Rock ballad which immediately hooks the listener with a catchy distorted drop-tuned guitar riff. It’s also quite musically different to Ross’ previous single, ‘Love & Time’, as the song’s lower key creates a haunting and brooding feel which ushers us into the darker side of his lyricism and songwriting. Expressive references to labyrinths, mazes and circles paint a picture of Ross feeling lost and confused as he stumbles through his darkness.
However, the song also effectively portrays the duality of Ross’ emotions, underlying a feeling of hope when he sings, “She’s my messiah washing away the rain”, leading into an explosive and uplifting chorus with layers of crunchy and lush guitars strumming a very pleasing chord progression in unison. The repetition of the words “fire away” in the choruses also allude to him fighting back against the darkness and emerging stronger, expressed through the raw emotion with which he sings these lines.
A defining moment of the song is the melodic guitar solo Ross shreds halfway through the song. As a guitarist myself, I am a very big fan of his playing style and even more so of the rocky and crunchy yet smooth and clear guitar tones he dialed in for the song. The solo is smooth and delivers exactly what the song needs while showing off Ross’ proficiency on the instrument. A very multi-talented man indeed!
I also want to commend Ross’ powerful and dynamic vocal range. I could immediately tell that Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave is a huge influence on him when I heard the opening vocal “groan”, but even more so when I heard the impressive high notes he hits in the choruses which are reminiscent of Cornell’s signature vocal style. Ross manages to channel his influences without making them sound derivative, which is not an easy thing to do and is testament to his artistry.
The cherry on top for me is the crystal-clear production of the song by Byron Muller and the mastering by Rogan Kelsey. Both have helped to ensure that every minute detail of the instruments and vocals come out with full gusto through the speakers, while also capturing the raw, old-school rock ‘n roll vibe that Ross Harding prides himself on. It makes the music he releases very pleasant to listen to while having all the power and guts we love about this genre of music.
‘Chapter II’ will be released on all major streaming platforms on 4 November 2022 and can be pre-saved here. After hearing the first two singles from it, I am very excited for the full release and cannot wait to see Ross perform these songs live with his rocking band!
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