Canadian rockers Hero present their new album ‘Fires of Beltain’ due out in the UK in January 2010. Though the band have a definitive sound, each of their twelve tracks flirt with the constraints of a different genre, making the album wholly unique and an epic listen.

What an introduction to the band this album is… From the explosive, riff and solo-heavy opening track ‘Hey Hey Hey’ through to the breezy and contemplative title track, ‘Fires of Beltain’ this offering is as imaginative a classic rock album as you’ll hear all year.

The new Hero album due to be released on the eve of Bealltainn ( the Gaelic name for the month of May or the festival that takes place on the first day of May) the traditional first day of summer is celebrated in Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man and some parts of the U.S. as well as Australia and Canada. Also observed and formerly celebrated in a similar festival in the other Celtic countries of Wales, Brittany and Cornwall. Beltane ( the anglicised spelling of Bealltainn) is related to Walpurgis Night celebrated in parts of northern Europe . Our English equivalent is May Day that falls exactly half of a year from November 1st, a cross quarter day meaning a day that is falling approximately halfway between a solstice and an equinox. May Day marks the end of the enduring winter half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and it has traditionally been an occasion for popular and often raucous celebrations.

As Europe became Christianized the pagan holidays lost their religious significance and either became our own holidays as we know them or some kind of morphed version . In the twentieth century, many neopagans began celebrating Beltane as a pagan religious festival again. Beltane Festivals certainly carry a large sexual charge and connotation to them as shown through figurative characters like The Green Man.

Found in many cultures around the world , the Green Man is often related to natural vegetative deities that have cropped up throughout the ages. Often carved in stone and seen on Churches. This symbol of rebirth with vines or branches sprouting through his mouth or nostrils that may bear flowers or fruit represents the cycle of growth each spring. Stone masons are believed responsible for bringing this motif to Europe from the Middle East. The Egyptian God Osiris, lord of the dead his green skin symbolizing re-birth is one such example. Also known as the Green One AL- Khidr an enigmatic figure in Islam; sometimes called a saint while others say he is prophet speaks of inspiration to the aspirant and committed artist. Like Osiris legend has it that he was dismembered and reborn. Fires Of Beltain as a ritual is a rebirth. The record of that name is also a rebirth in the sense of a new beginning.

Two brothers estranged for over twenty years have now finally united to make this amazing music together. Sean and Corey MacFadyen come from Ottawa, Ontario Canada along with Mike Turenne . Mike plays killer twelve string bass on the title track ” Hey Hey Hey Hey” that has a live stadium like sound of blazing fire and panache. To help get the stadium like vocals, two of Seans’ sons Liam ( 11) and Torin ( 13 ) belted out backup vocals.

Hero will release the second track ” Lying in the Closet “ with the upcoming video release that features a ” Silence of the Lambs ” type plot. Think of Jody Foster lurking around to find the evil child abductor murderer - the song is about a kid that used to get beaten with a stick every day! The kid beaten becomes the child abductor and……… The exciting slide guitar work really speeds along nicely with the eeriness and intensity of this song, visually and sonically. Not to be missed!

“Fires of Beltain” is really a love story. Aside from wonderful descriptive narration of setting that sets the mood of the song so beautifully, contrasts in lyrics ,mood, intensity and dynamics belie that image. ” Custard and Oats, Toasted at the Embers, Against the Stone, Hold On Hold Near, Hold On My Dear, Throw Juniper On the Fire, Purified Blessings, Between the Fires Of Beltain Under a Full Moon.” Beautiful string orchestrations, highland bagpipes, thunder and lightning and an awesome rapid fire guitar solo all make this a very dramatic and memorable work of art.

Featuring Hero for the first time on video will be the catchy and upbeat ” Glad” with sweet to the ear, guitar harmonies that will be reminiscent of ” Thin Lizzy” while the poppiness that hooks you in works really well with the video footage. Filmed just outside of the Nations capital in Ottawa Canada, beautiful scenery,an attractive young couple and the first visual introduction to the band Hero blend effortlesly together to show a very relaxing, entertaining video that anyone that has stolen their old man’s car keys can identify with.

Soothing piano mixed with beautiful acoustic guitar make ” Free as a Bird ” the easy listening hit on the record. Pared down as compared to the very thick multitracking on most of the record gives the listener a chance to catch their breath before heading to the extremely danceable as well as comical track ” Hangover .” With hangover there is an almost country feel to things that will certainly get your toes tapping or your behind shaking. Awesome banjo licks as well as world class ” Chet Atkins ” style guitar are featured on this track.