Issa – ‘Fire And Ice’

(Frontiers Music)

There are certain voices that you don't simply listen to, you feel them. Voices that somehow find a direct route past the ears and straight into the heart, carrying with them a warmth, emotion and familiarity that makes you feel like you're reconnecting with an old friend. For me, Issa has always possessed one of those voices. Listening to her sing is like having a long, comforting hug, and Fire And Ice is yet another magnificent reminder of exactly why I have so much time and respect for this hugely talented vocalist.

Issa has consistently delivered the goods to us Melodic Rock fanatics over the years, building a catalogue packed with songs that understand exactly what makes this genre so special. Fire And Ice continues that tradition in spectacular fashion. This is an album overflowing with melody, emotion, huge choruses, gorgeous musicianship and hooks that show absolutely no mercy. From the very first moments, it becomes abundantly clear that this isn't simply another AOR album, this is the sort of record that reminds you why you fell in love with the genre in the first place.

And bloody hell, those keyboards!

James Martin’s keyboard and synth work on Fire And Ice is simply sublime. I could quite happily spend several paragraphs waxing lyrical about them because they are such an integral part of the album's character. If you are someone who gets ridiculously excited when a glorious bank of Eighties-flavoured keyboards comes crashing into a Melodic Rock arrangement, then consider this album a total wet dream.

There is something wonderfully rich about the way the keyboards are used here. They don't simply sit in the background providing atmospheric decoration; they help shape the songs, adding colour, depth, texture and that unmistakable AOR sheen. There are lush layers, gorgeous melodic flourishes and wonderfully crafted synth sounds that constantly give the music another dimension. They provide that perfect balance between nostalgia and modern production, creating a sonic landscape that feels both timeless and wonderfully familiar.

But naturally, the heart and soul of Fire And Ice is Issa herself.

I absolutely adore her voice. She has an incredible range, but what impresses me most is the emotion and character she brings to every performance. Plenty of singers can hit the notes, but Issa has that rare ability to make you believe every single one. There is warmth in her delivery, power when the songs demand it and a wonderfully expressive quality that gives her vocal melodies a life of their own.

She mesmerizes me with the way she crafts vocal melodies that somehow embed themselves in my brain and refuse to leave. Issa understands melody instinctively. Her voice rises and falls with the music, wrapping itself around the arrangements and giving every chorus an additional emotional punch.

And those choruses are absolutely magnificent!

Fire And Ice is packed with the sort of big, memorable, sing-along refrains that AOR fans crave. These are choruses designed to lodge themselves into your subconscious after just a couple of listens. They have that wonderfully immediate quality where you find yourself humming along before you even realise you've learned the melody. It's classic AOR craftsmanship, but executed with enough freshness and personality to prevent the album from ever feeling like a simple exercise in nostalgia.

Tom Martin’s guitars provide plenty of melodic muscle, bringing a harder edge when required while never losing sight of the importance of the song. There is a wonderful balance between power and polish throughout the record. The arrangements are big without becoming bloated, glossy without sacrificing grit and melodic without ever becoming bland.

What really makes Fire And Ice work, though, is the sheer consistency. There isn't a sense that we're simply being handed a couple of killer songs surrounded by filler. Instead, the entire album feels carefully constructed, with each composition contributing to the overall experience. The melodies are strong, the performances are superb and the production allows every element to breathe.

There is also an undeniable emotional resonance running through the record. This is where Issa's voice becomes particularly important for me. She has always had the ability to take a beautifully constructed Melodic Rock song and elevate it into something far more personal. Her voice carries a sense of vulnerability alongside its strength, and that combination is incredibly powerful.

It is the kind of album that can make you smile while simultaneously tugging at those emotional strings. That, to me, is one of the greatest joys of AOR. Give me huge melodies, soaring vocals, sumptuous keyboards and choruses that make me want to sing at the top of my lungs and I'm a very happy man indeed.

And Fire And Ice gives me all of that in abundance.

I have so much respect for Issa, both as a vocalist and as an artist. She has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to deliver quality Melodic Rock, and this album stands proudly alongside the best of her work. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that Fire And Ice is one of Issa's best albums to date.

This is a magnificent AOR record. Killer choruses, indelible keyboards, sublime synth work, gorgeous melodies, powerful musicianship and, at the centre of it all, one of my favourite vocalists delivering another superb performance.

Issa's voice continues to hit me deeply. There is something wonderfully comforting about it, yet she can still unleash enormous power when the moment demands it. That combination of warmth, character, range and emotional resonance is what makes her so special.

Fire And Ice is exactly the sort of album that keeps me hopelessly in love with Melodic Rock and AOR. A stunning album that should be very high on every genre fan's hit list. Turn it up, let those keyboards wash over you, and prepare to fall in love with AOR all over again.

What a way to open the album! ‘The Call Of Love’ immediately establishes the wonderfully polished AOR sound of Fire And Ice, with sparkling keyboards, melodic guitars and a huge, instantly memorable chorus. Issa sounds absolutely magnificent, delivering those soaring vocal melodies with her trademark warmth and emotional depth. A beautifully constructed opener that grabs you immediately and refuses to let go.

‘Stranded’ brings another generous helping of glorious melodic rock, with a wonderfully infectious arrangement and a chorus that practically demands to be sung along with. Issa's performance is superb, effortlessly moving between delicacy and power. The keyboards are particularly delicious here, adding layers of Eighties-inspired AOR goodness. This is precisely the sort of song that makes me grin from ear to ear.

‘Fire And Ice’, the title track is an absolute beauty. There is a real sense of drama running through the arrangement, with the keyboards and synths creating a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop for Issa's magnificent vocal. She absolutely owns this song, delivering every line with passion and conviction. The melodies are instantly memorable, while the chorus has that wonderful larger-than-life quality that AOR fans simply adore.

‘Sea Of Desire’ brings another dose of emotional Melodic Rock magic. There is a gorgeous flow to the song, with the arrangement allowing Issa's voice to remain firmly at the centre. Her ability to make a vocal melody feel personal is remarkable. Once again, the keyboards add enormous character, surrounding the song in a lush sonic blanket.

‘All Or Nothing’, now this is pure AOR heaven! Big melodies, punchy instrumentation and a chorus with serious staying power. Issa sounds fantastic, injecting the performance with both strength and emotion. The hooks here are ridiculously effective, while the synth work provides that wonderfully glossy finish. This is the kind of song that gets better with every listen.

‘The Shadow Of Night’ is a darker, more atmospheric offering that allows Issa to showcase another side of her vocal personality. There is real drama here, with beautifully layered keyboards and a strong melodic foundation. Her voice possesses such incredible warmth that even the darker moments retain an emotional glow.

Time to turn the volume up! ‘Bullet On The Road’ injects a little extra energy into proceedings, combining driving guitars with those ever-present AOR hooks. Issa sounds powerful and confident, while the chorus is another absolute earworm. This is melodic rock with plenty of muscle.

‘Pay The Price’ delivers another beautifully emotional performance from Issa. The melodies are gorgeous, the keyboards sublime and the chorus wonderfully expansive. This is where her voice really gets under my skin, she doesn't simply sing the song, she makes you feel it.

‘One Step To Paradise’ is pure feel-good AOR. Bright, melodic and wonderfully uplifting, it has everything you could want from the genre. The keyboards are once again outstanding, while Issa's vocals wrap around those melodies like a warm embrace. Absolutely gorgeous.

‘Running From The Night’ is a punchier number with plenty of momentum and another chorus designed to stick around long after the song has finished. Issa delivers with tremendous authority, while the guitars and synths work together beautifully. Another superb example of why this album is such a joy.

A magnificent way to bring the album home. ‘The Waiting Game’ captures everything that makes Fire And Ice so special: emotion, melody, keyboards, atmosphere and that phenomenal Issa vocal. It leaves you wanting to immediately press play again, surely the ultimate compliment for any album.

Fire And Ice is the kind of AOR album that reminds you exactly why this genre still matters. Issa delivers a performance full of character and feeling, bringing genuine emotional weight to melodies that are impossible to shake. The keyboards and synths are an absolute delight, adding layers of atmosphere and that glorious classic AOR sheen, while the songwriting keeps the hooks coming thick and fast. Crucially, it never feels like nostalgia for nostalgia's sake, these songs have enough energy and personality to stand proudly on their own. For me, Issa remains one of the genre's most distinctive voices, and Fire And Ice is another fine addition to her catalogue. If soaring vocals, killer choruses, sumptuous keyboards and properly addictive Melodic Rock are your thing, get this album on your hit list. Press play, turn it up, and enjoy the ride.

10/10

Essential Track – ‘Stranded’

Review by Woody