Undoubtedly one of the best and most charismatic power metal bands that Greece has ever exported, Innerwish make an emphatic return with their new album, “Ash of Eternal Flame”. The Greek metallers, whose new album will be released through Reigning Phoenix Music, invited select metal media to a listening session for “Ash of Eternal Flame” at Devasoundz Studio. Grateful for the invitation, Myth of Rock was there and is here to give its report!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
As the journalists of the first group gathered at Devasoundz, we took our seats at the producer’s desk, ready to listen to the new songs by Innerwish. Manolis Tsigos (guitar) undertook the task of talking about the album and emphasized how important “Ash of Eternal Flame” is for the band. He highlighted that the album features all the trademarks of Innerwish. A natural continuation of the band’s previous self-titled album (“Innerwish” – 2016), this new record marks both the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. “Ash of Eternal Flame” is the most meticulously crafted Innerwish album to date. It took the band eight years to return, due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the loss of loved ones, which allowed the members to dedicate endless hours of work to this new release.
The album was recorded at LoNe and Devasoundz Studios in Athens, co-produced by the band and Fotis Benardo. It was mixed and mastered by Henrik Udd, with cover artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design. Now, as Innerwish celebrates 30 years since their inception, “Ash of Eternal Flame” comes as a gift from the band to their fans. The album contains twelve tracks (eleven new songs plus a bonus cover of “Send Me An Angel” by Blackfoot) and will hit stores on November 8, 2025.
But the time to listen to the tracks had come. Fragiskos Samoilis (drums) pushed play, and right below you can read my first impressions:
1) ”Forevermore”: Referring to the myth of Prometheus, which also served as the inspiration for the album cover, this first song makes for a grand, bombastic opening. The intro is truly remarkable, featuring a heavy rhythm section and beautiful choirs. The pre-chorus is catchy, and the chorus itself stands out. The song ends with breaks and keyboards, contains thrilling guitar solos, and strongly reminds me of Symphony X.
2) “Sea of Lies”: Once again showing a strong Symphony X influence, “Sea of Lies” begins with sharp guitar phrases and a stunning production, where every element of the song truly shines. The track features Hansi Kürsch, Blind Guardian’s iconic frontman, who gives his all and elevates the song — his pairing with George Eikosipentakis is ideal! “Sea of Lies” is a power/prog gem that follows the American style, but naturally incorporates many Blind Guardian elements. I also appreciated the bridge, with its lovely keyboards, double-bass drumming, and heartfelt guitar solos. Lyrically, it is a humanitarian song.
3) “Higher”: One of the band members’ most beloved songs, “Higher”, is dedicated to sons and daughters and was described by the band as a power/poser song! And yes, it’s a European mid-tempo power metal track, in the style of Europe, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius, and others. I love the chorus, and there’s also a fantastic, atmospheric bridge. The melodic guitar solo has a strong Helloween influence. This song will soon be released as a new single and music video, and once you hear it, you’ll understand why!
4) “Soul Asunder”: Belonging to the heaviest songs on the album, I noticed how George spits out the vocals, and how amazing the pre-chorus and chorus are! The guitar solo is very clean and serves as a tribute to Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith. In general, there are a lot of Iron Maiden elements throughout, and I’m sure fans will love this song! I also really like the way the song ends.
5) “Primal Scream”: This song was the first one written for the album and was initially considered to be the first single. It features all the hallmark characteristics of the Innerwish sound. This time, the style of the song reminded me of Stratovarius (just listen to the keys and the groovy rhythm section). The “crying” guitars are one of the song’s highlights, along with the superb vocals, the catchy chorus, and the epic bridge, which adds depth to the track. The guitar solo is both technical and aggressive, and the use of backing vocals is brilliant!
6) “Ash of Eternal Flame”: The title track of the album refers to Greece and the way this country falls and then rises again. It is the most Innerwish-esque song in this new effort; it’s epic, pompous, and grows into a heavy metal anthem. The vocal delivery is stunning, the keyboards create a unique atmosphere, and the chorus makes this song an earworm. The choirs add new dimensions to the track, and there is also a bridge that sounds intricate and progressive. The guitar solos build extraordinary layers, and the song concludes with acoustic guitars and keyboards. This is one of the best tracks on the new record!
7) “Cretan Warriors”: Its lyrics refer to Crete and the glorious Minoan civilization, and it is dedicated to three individuals who helped Innerwish during the band’s career. The song starts with heavy, crushing guitars, and George sings the gorgeous vocal lines with enchanting finesse. This hymn unfolds all its majesty in the bridge, where you can enjoy the incredible guitars, choirs, and keyboards. The band considered adding a Cretan lyra; however, they ultimately decided against it since the song was already overproduced. It’s an incredible song!
8) “The Hands of Doom”: This is the Kamelot song of the record—indeed, “Kamelot” was the working title of this impressive track. It refers to the myth of Midas and sounds incredibly epic, with all its immersive keyboards and choirs. The vocals are phenomenal, with George singing like Jørn Lande, Russell Allen, and Jeff Scott Soto (according to Manolis, George recorded only one take of the song’s verses!). The chorus is notable, the guitar solo has a Savatage vibe, and the choirs give me goosebumps. This is my favorite song on Ash of Eternal Flame; it could easily belong on one of Kamelot’s classic albums.
9) “Once Again”: This song was intended to be included in the previous Innerwish album. It is a very introspective track with a strong Queensrÿche influence! It’s a power ballad featuring beautiful acoustic guitars, a wonderful guitar riff, and a catchy refrain. It has a European power metal character, the solo is flawless, and the breaks are very interesting. At times, it even reminds me a bit of Avantasia! Don’t miss the short, clever section with the piano!
10) “I Walk Alone”: It easily could have been on another previous Innerwish album. It has a Riot aesthetic, and while listening to it, bands like Stratovarius came to mind. It features one of the best melancholic Innerwish refrains, with vocals in the style of Jørn Lande and Russell Allen, perfectly combined with the guitars and the keyboards, and remarkable vocal melodies.
11) “Breathe”: This track closes the album in a triumphant way. It has a Euro power/poser style as well, and its beginning reminded me of Queensrÿche once again. The refrain really drove me crazy! There is a lot of feeling in the guitar parts, and overall, the song is compelling with its atmosphere and pompousness. It captures the essence of Innerwish and leaves us with a lasting positive impression.
12) “Send Me an Angel”: Innerwish took this classic Blackfoot song and made it their own. It’s a great cover by the Greek metallers, showcasing top-class vocal and guitar performances. Note that the band played this song in its early days, and this cover features the keyboards of Manos Gavalas.
Having listened to the whole album once, I can confidently say that this is an amazing new album by the mighty Innerwish. It is evident that the band worked very hard on these new songs, and the result is mind-blowing! It is a mixture of US and European power metal, influenced by bands like Riot, Symphony X, Kamelot, Blind Guardian, Helloween and Stratovarius. There is a magical chemistry among the band members; they love what they are doing, and the result is beyond beautiful! I would like to listen to the record a few more times to form a more certain opinion, but it is crystal clear that we are talking about one of the greatest power metal albums of 2024 and one of the best albums that Innerwish has ever released!
I would like to thank the guys for everything, give my congratulations on this exciting new offering and wish them good luck! We will talk again about “Ash of Eternal Flame” in some days!
