Fire Makers – Metal Empire

In 2005, during a gap between travels and projects, I had the chance to collaborate as a guest keyboardist for an independent metal band named Fire Makers. They were in the process of recording their debut album Metal Empire, and I was invited to contribute organ, piano, and synthesizer parts on several tracks.

It turned out to be an electrifying and high-adrenaline experience. What struck me most was the stunning voice of their lead vocalist at the time—none other than Eugent Bushpepa, who would later rise to prominence on international stages.

🔥 Fire Makers feat. Eugent Bushpepa — Tears of Pain

One of the most intense songs from that session is Tears of Pain, a dramatic and melodic track that fuses classic heavy metal riffs with progressive layers and soulful vocals. For this song, I played the Hammond-style organ parts using a Roland VK-8, while the piano and additional synth textures were layered on a GEM S3 workstation.

The combination of analog-style tonewheels and digital sample layering gave the track a punchy, symphonic metal atmosphere that still holds up remarkably well.

🎧 The Gear

• Roland VK-8 – Drawbar organ emulator with Leslie simulation
• GEM S3 – 76-key workstation for piano and synth textures

The band disbanded not long after the release, unfortunately. However, the spirit of Fire Makers lives on under a different name: Maiden Division, a tribute act dedicated to covering the music of Iron Maiden with great accuracy and passion.

🎸 Original Band Members

• Vincenzo Armenise — Bass
• Matteo Corelli — Drums
• Massimo “Dingo” Candido — Guitars
• Carlo Cicognani — Guitars
• Fabio Guarnieri — Vocals

It was a joy and privilege to work with these musicians. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the whole band, and especially to Max “Dingo” Candido for involving me in such an energetic, albeit brief, collaboration.

“Heavy metal may not be my usual terrain, but it was an unforgettable chapter that taught me the value of raw energy and tight musicianship.”