FIREWIND is a Heavy Metal band mentored by Greek guitarist Gus G. (a.k.a. Kostas Karamitroudis). G had earlier carved his name on albums by acts such as MYSTIC PROPHECY, NIGHTRAGE and DREAM EVIL. At first based in Boston, Massachusetts, debut product came in 1998 with the self-financed album 'Nocturnal Symphony' seeing REIGN OF TERROR's Brandon Pender on vocals and Mike Scurfield on the drums. These tracks, although album length, had actually been conceived as a demo intended to launch Gus G. onto the international market.

FIREWIND delivered the 'Between Heaven And Hell' album in June 2002, this session including erstwhile KENZINER members vocalist Stephen Frederick and drummer Brian Harris. Frederick also held credits with Cincinnati's SPIKE and BILLY THE KID whilst Harris cites prior membership of VAINGLORY, ZANISTER and MY OWN VICTIM. 'Between Heaven And Hell', produced by DAVID CHASTAIN, was mixed in Sweden by the esteemed figure of Fredrik Nordstrom. Released by David Chastain's Leviathan label in North America the record would see global release via Toshiba EMI in Japan, Massacre Records in Germany and Rock Brigade in Brazil. European releases sported different cover art to international versions.

FIREWIND's November 2003 follow up 'Burning Earth', once again seeing production credits going to DAVID CHASTAIN, saw Stephen Frederick and Gus. G. enrolling an all new rhythm section of former BREAKING SILENCE bassist Petros Christo, hailing from Thessaloniki, Greece, with the talents of Stian L. Kristoffersen from Norwegian acts DIMENSION F3H, TRIVIAL ACT and PAGAN'S MIND on the drums. Japanese variants, released via the Toshiba-EMI label, added the exclusive instrumental track 'Still The Winds'.

The band would promote the record with a short burst of Japanese shows in January 2004 supported by ROB ROCK'S RAGE OF CREATION. Gus G. had earlier taken a guest guitar spot on Rock's 'Eyes Of Eternity' album. However, Stephen Frederick was forced to pull out of these gigs, citing "pressing personal reasons", and FIREWIND pulled in the AVALON, MOONLIGHT AGONY and FARO credited Chitral Somapala as substitute. As was later revealed, the band had never actually met Stephen Frederick over the course of recording the two albums, the sessions being conducted as trans-continental studio affairs.

In side activity, Gus G. donated a guest guitar solo to HAMMERFALL vocalist Joacim Cans solo album, featuring on the CANS title track 'Beyond The Gates' and also donated guitar parts to Japanese avant-garde Metal act SIGH's controversial 'Gallows Gallery' album.

Meantime, ex-frontman Stephen Fredrick cut a new album with an all new band unit dubbed KINRICK. Working once again with producer DAVID T. CHASTAIN the band comprised VAINGLORY guitarist Corbin King, ZANISTER bassist James Martin and FIREWIND drummer Stian Kristoffersen.

Recordings for a new FIREWIND album saw former MEGADETH guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN and the TESTAMENT, DEATH and CANCER credited credited JAMES MURPHY contributing guest solos. With a working title of 'Forged By Fire' the record, with Chity Somapala on lead vocals, was mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In September of 2004, after contributing to the album 'The Book Of Heavy Metal', Gus G. left the DREAM EVIL ranks in order to focus his attention on FIREWIND. European and Scandinavian gigs in April of 2005, dubbed the 'Icebreaker' tour, would see FIREWIND joining a package billing comprising HAMMERFALL, THUNDERSTONE and Finnish "Monster Metal" band LORDI. The band announced UK supports to YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in the Summer but would be forced to withdraw when Chity Somapala's visa application was rejected. As it transpired, Somapala officially left FIREWIND due to "personal reasons" in June, forcing the band's cancellation of a scheduled appearance at the 'Fabric Festival' in Trier. Meantime, the 2004 opus 'Forged By Fire' finally received a US release in July through Magick Records.

Gus G. joined ARCH ENEMY in mid 2005 as the group's touring guitarist after regular six-stringer Christopher Amott bowed out of that band in order to "fully concentrate on his studies". FIREWIND pulled in new band members in November, ex-MAJESTIC, MEDUZA, GARDENIAN and FAITH TABOO, SANDALINAS and TIME REQUIEM man Apollo Papathanasio on vocals and the veteran figure of Mark Cross on drums. The British born drummer held prior credentials with outfits such as KINGDOM COME, METALIUM, HELLOWEEN, VALANOS, AT VANCE, WINTER'S BANE, THE SUPREMACY and GOD'S ARMY and had formatively garnered a cosmopolitan range of credits across the Greek Rock field with acts SCRAPTOWN, MAGNA CARTA and SPITFIRE, occult Metal band NIGHTFALL.

FIREWIND began recording of a new album at GM Recordings in Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström in February 2006. Ex-singer Chity Somapala re-emerged that same month with his new project RED CIRCUIT, co-instigated by ex-SHEELA man Markus Teske, for the album 'Trance State'.

In March 2006 Somapala announced the formation of a new "atmospheric, bone-crushing power metal" band called CIVILIZATION ONE. Here he would be joined by an international roster of players comprising guitarist Aldo Lanobile of SECRET SPHERE, bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson of HEAVENLY and MALADAPTIVE, the SHADRANE and LALU credited Vivian Lalu on keyboards plus Luca Cartasegna, from MORTUARY DRAPE and SECRET SPHERE on drums. That same month Gus G relinquished his post in NIGHTRAGE in order to fully prioritise FIREWIND. Sompala subsequently joined DOMAIN.

The 2006 FIREWIND album, 'Allegiance', was launched through Century Media Records in July, impressively hitting the national Greek charts at number 11. A preceding single, 'Falling To Pieces' backed by a Patric Ullaeus directed promotional video, added a cover version of BLACKFOOT's 'Teenage Idol'. October and November European dates had the band supporting DRAGONFORCE. The group teamed up with ANGRA and POWER QUEST for a tour of France in February 2007. in early March Patric Ullaeus directed a promotional video for the song 'Breaking The Silence' featuring a guest appearance by female singer Tara Teresa. UK shows lined up for April had Swedish Stoners GRAND MAGUS as support.

The band's appearance at the Atlanta, Georgia 'Progpower' festival provided a chance for original singer Stephen Frederick to join the band onstage. This actually marked the first time the musicians had met in person.

In 2008 FIREWIND's 'Mercenary Man' single entered the Greek chart at an impressive no. 6. Century Media issued 'The Premonition' album in March, notably being featured the same line-up as its predecessor. An unusual choice of cover versions saw the inclusion of the MICHAEL SEMBELLO track 'Maniac', known for its soundtrack role in the dance movie 'Flashdance'.

European tour dates saw FIREWIND flanking KAMELOT. The band then gained a highly valuable slot on the UK 'Download' festival bill on June 13th. Successive festivals included Germany's 'Bang Your Head' event, the 'Graspop Metal Meeting' in Belgium and Sweden's 'Rockweekend' in Kilafors.

'The Premonition' album was released in Japan on June 25th through King Records. This set was released as a limited edition CD+DVD, including four songs from the band's hometown show in Thessaloniki on January 12th 2008, plus interviews with all band members. In addition, the album contained three bonus tracks, 'Ride To The Rainbow's End', 'Spirits In A Digital World' and an acoustic version of 'Mercenary Man'.

FIREWIND headlined nine UK dates in September. That same year the band covered NEVERMORE's 'Believe In Nothing' for inclusion on the Century Media artist compilation 'Covering 20 Years Of Extremes'. This double CD set comprised Century Media acts paying home to their stable mates. 

The band supported STRATOVARIUS on UK shows in May 2009. FIREWIND supported the SCORPIONS on 11th July in Chania, Greece at the Perivolia Stadium, marking the band's first show on the Crete island.

Rumours in early August 2009 suggested that Gus G was to perform as OZZY OSBOURNE's new guitarist at the Blizzard Entertainment 'BlizzCon' convention that month in Anaheim, California. This speculation was confirmed on 21st August.

Garry Sharpe-Young