For those of you who are into heavy rock and roll the way acts as Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society or Black Sabbath play it, 2006 can’t start any better with the new Fireball Ministry album. This is a first class hard rock album, from the first note of ‘It Flies Again’ all the way to the end of ‘Save the Saved’. Fireball Ministry was formed by James Rota and Emily Burton in Cincinnati in the late 90’s. They soon outgrew Cincinnati and relocated in New York, from where they moved to L.A. After “Ou Est La Rock?” (1999, Bong Load) and the “Second Great Awakening” (2003, Nuclear Blast) the time is right for their third release; Their Rock Is Not Our Rock. When I first heard it I thought it was Zakk Wylde himself who played the guitar but no not at all miss Emily J.

Burton and James A. Rota are here instead to please us with all kinds of sharp rock ‘n roll riffs. All songs are simple, loud and heavy just the way a rock and roll album should be, no overkill of lead solo’s but very heavy and sharp guitar riffs instead. The lead vocals (also done by Rota) remind me to Ozzy Osbourne with a small Keith Caputo flavour. The music in it’s total is best described as perfect mixture between Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne and a little Life Of Agony (River Runs Red period). Fireball Ministry plays hard rock just the way it was mend to be; Loud, Proud & dirty! (european street Date: January 30th 2006)