Ah, Bonfire. One of the Melodic Hard Rock scenes most talented and yet underrated bands. If I were to compare the level of talent in this band, I'd say they almost give Pretty Maids a run for their money with their energetic anthems, fist pumping rockers, and high class Power Ballads. It's a shame that not many people know about this band and this album, Point Blank. Well, that's one of the reasons I'm a reviewer, it is my duty to enlighten eager metalheads out there to new bands, or in this case, bands that have been around awhile but sadly overlooked.

Released in 1988, Point Blank was the followup to Bonfire's breakthrough album Fireworks and it surpassed all expectations. The sound here is not typical 80's hard rock but that is an obvious influence. Once again the best comparison would be Jump the Gun era Pretty Maids. The music begins with Bang Down the Door and Waste No Time, two semi-fast paced full on hard rock songs with infectious melodies and just exploding with energy. Hard On Me has some nice keyboards in the intro as well and slows down just a bit to a more mid-tempo level. After this comes the first ballad, Why is it Never Enough. I like it but not as much as other ballads that Bonfire have done. An almost epic track (for an 80's Melodic Hard Rock band) comes next. Tony's Roulette has a guitar melody line that is very recognizable and a gang shouted chorus that makes this a sleeper hit amongst other Bonfire fans. A rather odd interlude track is next, and then after that comes one of the best songs I have ever heard in my life. To me, You're Back is Bonfire's I Want Out, their Future World, their Carry On. With a beautiful intro riff that is forever stuck in my mind, this song shows everyone the blueprint to hard rock perfection, pounding drums, melodies out the ass, and a chorus that borders on godliness it simply cannot be beat. I guarantee that if you take one listen to it you will absolutely love it. Look of Love and The Price of Loving You are some nice slow songs, not ballads but slow driving love songs like only Bonfire can do. Freedom is My Belief and Gimme Some are the only real lowlights on the album not because they are bad songs but simply because they are not as good as the rest of the tracks here. They are just a bit more standard rock songs and Freedom... has a pretty cool solo in it. The quality comes roaring back however with Say Goodbye a straight out of the 80's anthemic, singalong, fist pumping of a song. It sounds like a Bon Jovi song off of the Slippery - Jersey era but even better. Out of the five remaining songs on Point Blank we get one crunchy song (Never Surrender), one fast song with 20th Century Youth Patrol, one spoon solo, one soft ballad (Who's Foolin' Who) and one more monster of a song with Know Right Know. An excellent close to an excellent album.

I know that with all the praise I've lauded on Point Blank some readers might be skeptical but I honestly do believe that this is one of the best Melodic Hard Rock albums ever made. It's not a classic in the sense that albums like Number of the Beast are but it is an essential nontheless. Every song on here is at least above average and over half of the album is hard rock perfection, give Bonfire a listen and help bring them out of the shadows.