01. Deadly Contradiction
02. Just Follow The Rainbow
03. Save Me                   play
04. Let It Grow
05. Better Days
06. Do Or Die
07. Close To The Edge
08. Crazy                    play
09. Loser’s Lane
10. Hold Me Now
11. I Need You (bonus track)
12. Rivers Of Glory (bonus track)

Musicians:
* Claus Lessmann - lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitars, bass, rhythm guitars
* Hans Ziller - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, talkbox, acoustic guitar, sitar, slide guitar 
* Chris Limburg - guitars 
* Uwe Köhler - bass, backing vocals 
* Dominik Huelshorst - drums 

Bonfire (originally Cacumen) is a German heavy metal band, founded in Ingolstadt, Germany in 1972. Bonfire started 1986 from Cacumen where the members just changed the name into Bonfire because of the advice of the Record Company and the Management. The original founders Hans Ziller and Claus Lessmann are still with the Band Bonfire and are the only ones who have the rights on the name Bonfire. ---wikipedia

Should you find yourself lucky enough to release an album that everyone lauds as a classic, once the dust has settled you'll discover that it can be a bit of a double edged sword … especially if it happens fairly early on in your career. On the one hand it undoubtedly opens doors, bringing with it the much needed media focus essential in establishing your band as major players on the international scene, but the flipside is that you set yourself up for almost surefire failure by making it damn near impossible to follow. In some respects that's exactly what happened to Bonfire after unleashed the mighty 'Fire Works' back in late '87.

Heralded by everyone and his dog as a near perfect slab of svelte designer pop metal; 'Fire Works' blazed a trail across the firmament that was damn near impossible to miss or resist, and to be frank the band have been playing catch up ever since. Now, that's not to say that they haven't had some great releases in the years that followed – I've plenty of time for the likes of 'Point Blank', 'Rebel Soul', 'Fuel To The Flames' and the excellent 'The Räuber' for example – but if you find yourself with a sudden Bonfire craving, chances are that you'll automatically reach for 'Fire Works' as if preprogrammed to do so.

Proclaimed on the Bonfire website as their first 'regular' effort since 2006's pumping 'Double X' set – as I said earlier, 2008's admirable 'The Räuber' sounded pretty good to me as a 'regular' Bonfire album, but there ya go – 'Branded' has by default then been a long time coming. Swaggering opener 'Deadly Contradiction' kicks things off quite nicely (no, make that very nicely!) – all brooding riffs, menacing undercurrents and hypnotic harmonies – whilst following cut 'Just Follow The Rainbow' ratchets up the pace a notch or two, yet still retains the trademark strong melodies and raucous joie de vivre we've come to expect from the band. --- Dave Cockett, rocktopia.co.uk

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1. On and on
2. I Would Do Anything for You
3. What About Love
4. Rock 'N' Roll Star
5. Free
6. Preachers and Whores
7. Love Can Conquer All
8. Give a Little
9. September on My Mind
10. Friends

    Claus Lessmann - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
    Hans Ziller - lead, rhythm & acoustic guitars, sitar, talk-box, slide
    Uwe Köhler - bass
    Jürgen Wiehler - drums, percussion

Bonfire are really giving their fanbase something to talk about with this album. The reaction has been rather mixed and it's taken me more than a few listens to decide for myself. Bottom line is that I am disappointed. But I'm not a die hard Bonfire fan, so I can have some appreciation for some of the tracks here. I know others that have been alienated by this release though. Why? Because the album really lacks energy. The band has updated their approach to a more modern, sometimes darker style than the sound their 80's melodic hard rock heyday. The guys have a deal with BMG to release this across much of Europe, but it's not ground breaking or different enough to garner any new fans. But it's unfortunately different enough to displace original fans looking for some solid European Bon Jovi style hard rock.

It will be interesting to see what the wash up is after this release has been out for a while. To be blunt – the quality of the songs, style aside, just aren't strong enough. The album as a whole has a modern feel, but is rather laid back in reality. Many of the tracks are slow to mid-tempo at best. The opening track On And On is the album's heaviest and also the most modern and aggressive track, but the chorus just goes, well…on and on. The poppier I Would Do Anything 4 U is better – it features some solid guitar playing and a good solo and a catchier chorus. What About Love? is better again. This acoustic driven modern pop/rocker features a good moody vibe and a memorable chorus. Rock 'N' Roll Star (Born To Rock) kills the momentum built by the last couple of tracks. This modern rocker just doesn't rock. This album is a mixture of hit and miss. Free is a hit. A big hit. This is my favourite track on the album. Free is a big rock ballad with a modern feel to it, but a great rocking chorus that is pretty much an instant hit.

Preachers & Whores is another song about wanting to rock, but just doesn't have the energy or a cool chorus required to make it work. Love Can Conquer All is an easy going mid-tempo ballad that has a better sound and a catchier chorus. Give A Little Love is similar in tempo and approach. No need for the same song twice, even if it is ok. September On My Mind is a little heavier and has a more modern tone. But is that lyric really saying "…we are all American…"? Clearly this is a homage to Sept. 11, but the track really doesn't include any memorable hooks. Friends closes the album. It's unfortunately a long and featureless acoustic ballad. ---melodicrock.com

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CD1
1. You Make Me Feel (new version 2008)
2. Give It A Try
3. Who’s Foolin’ Who                play
4. I’d Love You To Want Me
5. Let Me Be Your Water
6. Friends
7. I Don’t Want You
8. Blink Of An Eye
9. Feels Like Comin’ Home
10. Why Is It Never Enough          play
11. Right Now
12. Southern Winds
13. Rivers Of Glory
14. Love Don’t Lie
15. You Are All
16. You Make Me Feel

CD2
1. The First Cut Is The Deepest
2. If It Wasn’t For You
3. Rock’N’Roll Cowboy
4. Feel’s Like Comin’ Home - Piano version      play
5. I Need You
6. Proud Of My Country - Acoustic version
7. Before We Say Good Bye                       play
8. Good Night Amanda
9. Hearts Bleed Their Own Blood
10. Love Don’t Lie - Acoustic Mix
11. Charlie und Louise
12. Rock’N’Roll Cowboy - Spanish version
13. Komm her
14. Rock’N’Roll Cowboy
15. Verdammt was will ich
16. Domo Arigato

Double CD reissue. You Make Me Feel: The Ballads is the fifth compilation by the German hard rock band Bonfire. It is a greatest hits collection that was released by LZ Records in 2009, featuring a double CD set of all the best ballad songs by the band. The album also features a new version of "You Make Me Feel" as well as "Domo Arigato" that was on the Japanese version of The Räuber. Bonfire (originally known Cacumen) is a German heavy metal band, founded in Ingolstadt, Germany in 1972 by Hans Ziller. In 1986, based on the advice of the record company and the management, the band changed it's name to Bonfire. Hans Ziller is still in the band. ---Editorial Reviews

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