I’ll be totally honest. I have always been a casual Heart fan and never delved too deep into their material. I’ve always loved the songs I heard, but Ann Wilson‘s voice has always blown me away. The early days of Heart in the ’70s, their re-invented sound in the ’80s and ’90s, and their return to their classic roots in the ’00s are a testament to how diversity was the key to longevity. Ann Wilson has once again stepped out in 2022 with Fierce Bliss, an album comprised of both covers and original material.
Kicking off with the song “Greed,” I was taken back by the song’s overall vibe, mood, and lyrics. “Greed” is a dark rocker that showcases Wilson’s powerhouse vocals. This song made me remember what a great vocalist she is; it floored me how her voice has only gotten more intense and more Heart piercing with a slight rasp with age. This song had me excited for what was to come and grabbed 100% of my attention.
“Black Wing,” the second track, is without a doubt my favorite song. This is the album’s showstopper, and I will even go as far as to say that this may be Ann Wilson’s finest moment in decades. “Black Wing” was the first song written for this album in the early days of the pandemic. It was inspired by the birds around St. John’s River near her home. With a dark, atmospheric groove that reminds me a bit of early Alice In Chains, this song reflects a life long-lived by someone who lived to write and sing about it.
“Love of My Life,” by Queen featuring country legend/current Eagles member Vince Gill is where Fierce Bliss derails a bit. In all honesty, it’s not the song itself as much as it is the inclusion of Vince Gill. A vocalist like Ann Wilson doesn’t need support or accompaniment, and I feel that Gill’s appearance took away from what could’ve been a perfect cover of a great, timeless song.
Another highlight of Fierce Bliss is “Angel’s Blues,” which showcases Wilson’s versatility and passion for music without limitations. Wilson co-wrote this one with long-time Allman Brothers Band/Gov’t Mule guitar legend Warren Haynes. According to Wilson, Warren gave her a version of this song performed by Gov’t Mule without any vocals. This created a clean slate for Wilson to put pen to paper and pen a song that could very well have been an Allman Brothers classic.
All in all, Fierce Bliss may be one of the most pleasant surprises of 2022 for me so far. I was not expecting such an electrifying, powerful collection of songs. Fierce Bliss is an album that I feel solidifies Ann Wilson as a relevant voice of Rock N’ Roll that has aged like fine wine but managed to sound current instead of dated, tired, or overly nostalgic. This is not your ’70s Heart if that’s what you’re expecting. Fierce Bliss is powerful, fun, exciting, and fans of good ol’ Rock N’ Roll, both old and young, will have a soft spot for Fierce Bliss. This is Ann Wilson in the now, and she is showing no signs of going anywhere but forward.
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