Review Summary: An unknown Metalcore gem.
2 of 2 thought this review was well writtenSpitfire on Cult Fiction is:
Jon Spencer - Vocals (ex-Scarlet)
Matt Beck - Guitar (ex-Mae)
Dan Tulloh - Guitar (ex-Scarlet
Chris Raines - Drums (ex-Norma Jean)
The amazing State Faults posted something about this band on Facebook and checking them out turned out to be the greatest gift for me.
Since all members played in rather famous and successful bands before, I guess you could call Spitfire a supergroup. However, while those formations mostly fail to create something as great as it could be, this album seems to be the exception that proves the rule. They play Metalcore with influences drawn from every side of the gerne and execute it with perfection and individualism.
5 of the 15 tracks are instrumental songs, spread throughout the whole album, which provides enjoyable variety, even though it wouldn't be necessary since they jump across the whole Metalcore world and not a single song sounds similar to the one before. There must be so much work put into this album that it will make you cry because it's so unknown. The overall atmosphere is rather dark, comparable for me to for example As The Sun Sets' albums, though there are many fun and more open moments that don't make this a hard listen. But for the most part, it's really a huge mind***.
The opener "Arrhythma Drift" is the song I recommend you to check out to get a little impression of how they change their style even in a song itself. The song starts out fast, leading into a catchy chorus that might remind you of QOTSA (also proving the variety of the vocalist), goes on into a slower instrumental section and ends with a Djent-esque riff. And if you then hear the beginning of the next song, you'll agree with me on how individual every song is.
Track 3, "Apnea 1", is the first instrumental song that is probably comparable to Botch's "Swimming The Channel Vs. Driving", while the structure is similar to Isis. It starts out with a guitar and bass line that turns out to barely change in the course of it. The drums kick in at around 1:10, slowly increasing the heaviness until they fade away again close to the end, leaving the guitar and bass alone again. It's hard to describe what I feel during the song. I think of someone living in a place he hates, finally deciding to leave and then setting out on a journey, uncertain of the future. I guess that sounds retarted but I'm not sure how to put it better. The song is obviously amazing either way.
I'm bad at describing things, so there's not much more for me to say about this album. If you like any Metalcore band, especially the 4 I recommended, you must check this out. It's a jewel you don't want to miss. As far as I know, this band is currently on hiatus or something but maybe if this album and their other work get more attention they might decide to write some music again and that'd be a blessing for everyone.
