A band who knows how to do Classic Melodic Rock.

When Epitaph sing about going "down the highway – my way" you know you're dealing with a no-nonsense Rock and Roll band. No messing, just a basic statement of intent from a band who keep it simple but effective and on their terms.

For a band to be still going strong since their formation in 1969, the line from opening track 'Nightmare' is quite apt. Even more so followed by (things) 'Ain't Like The Way They Used To Be'" – indeed the music world may well be unrecognisable from their early days, yet they still uphold the traditional values of what makes Rock music great. Yet, there's significantly more to Epitaph than meets the eye

Having added the unplugged and acoustic strings to their bow in the not too distant past, 'Fire From The Soul' finds them sticking steadfastly to their roots and includes some songs which remain in a less developed form that haven't been given the electric polish.

Case of point with 'No One Can Save Me'; an acoustic curio, even going as far to say that it's akin to a Rock and Roll hoedown with the fiddle(!)/electric guitar solo combo adding to the novelty. It's also an early chance to appreciate some classy harmonies which stand out particularly on 'Spark To Start A Fire'. The title track, running to almost nine minutes, has a certain Folky/Electric Celtic atmosphere, something like Thin Lizzy were capable of turning their hand to, shifting a Rock song toward a Celtic Rock jig. The you get the Country vibe of 'Any Day' followed by 'Man Without A Fire' featuring some dirty slide plus 'Rondo Alla Turca' – you know the original – chucked in as a bit of a throwaway before 'One Of These Days' brings the album to a close, coming full circle in a rootsy Rocking manner (a little section more than vaguely reminiscent of David Lee Roth's 'Just Like Paradise' single). All adding up to reinforce the "more strings the bow" pronouncement.

Epitaph have quite some history and for anyone unfamiliar with them it's worth a read if not just for appreciating the line-up changes and their break up and triumphant 2000 reunion. Well into the twenty first century they remain shamefully under acknowledged – file under a band who knows how to do Classic Melodic Rock.

Mike Ainscoe