Gus G. shows no signs of slowing down: Firewind are preparing a new album, Henning Basse returns

Guitar icon Gus G. (ex-Ozzy Osbourne) confirms that Firewind have no intention of slowing down. The band are currently putting the finishing touches on a new studio album, set to be released later this year via BLKIIBLK, the new metal imprint of Frontiers Label Group. The record will follow Stand United (2024) and appears to be shaping up as one of the most ambitious chapters in the band's history.

A major change is the return of vocalist Henning Basse, whose voice has been closely associated with Firewind since 2007. He first stepped in as a live singer on the tour supporting Allegiance, later becoming a key figure in the band's comeback era between 2016 and 2019. That period produced the highly acclaimed album Immortals, which to this day remains one of the standout entries in Firewind's discography.

Following the split with vocalist Herbie Langhans (Avantasia) at the end of 2024, Basse's return proved to be a natural move. According to Gus G., this is not merely a lineup change, but a clear restart of the band's creative chemistry. The new album is said to have a conceptual framework and is being created with the aim of pushing Firewind forward rather than looking back.

Another significant step is the transition from AFM Records to BLKIIBLK, a label focused exclusively on heavier metal genres. With this move, Frontiers separated its traditional AOR catalogue from its metal projects to keep the two paths distinct. Firewind now find themselves alongside names such as Megadeth and Biohazard — something Gus G. describes as both an honour and a confirmation that the band is heading in the right direction.

Gus G. himself remains in exceptional creative form. In addition to the new Firewind album, he has also completed a new solo record, which is likewise scheduled for release this year. Recently he has written more than twenty new songs and openly states that he refuses to stagnate: past albums are important, but in his view true value lies only in constant forward motion.

The most recent studio album Stand United featured nine new tracks produced by Dennis Ward (Magnum, Unisonic), as well as a metal cover of Talking In Your Sleep by The Romantics. In 2023, Firewind also released the live album and Blu-ray Still Raging, which marked the close of one chapter in the band's journey.

After more than two decades on the scene, Firewind thus reaffirm their status as a pillar of modern melodic power metal — rooted in the legacy of Rainbow, Judas Priest, and Helloween, yet driven by an energy that firmly anchors them in the present.