Review Summary: Though the band doesn’t tread new ground here, this album serves as a great release for fans of good old fashioned metalcore.
After four years, Phinehas return with a solid metalcore outing in
The Fire Itself. Though there isn’t much here we haven’t heard before, the band stays mostly consistent throughout the ten track record. As some bands in the genre have swung for the fences, Phinehas has maintained a linear path that has worked for them in the long run. Albeit a couple disappointing tracks, this is a return to form after the stepback that was
Dark Flag.
“Eternally Apart” is a stunning melodic opener with some strong Killswitch Engage worship. The solo in the title track is one of the notable moments in the first half. The guitar tones throughout each breakdown have a gritty, almost technical aspect to them that I undeniably enjoy.
One of the weakest aspects of the album are the cleans. They aren’t necessarily bad, but they don’t spice up the tracks in ways other bands succeed like Veil of Maya or The Devil Wears Prada. The worst part I can say about them is that they’re one note and do nothing else than get the job done. That being said, there are some shining moments in “Defining Moments” and “The Storm in Me”. The vocal effects in the latter are something I’d love to see the band experiment with more in future releases.
Another facet of the album that hurts the overall piece of work are some of the undeveloped tracks such as “Thorns” and “Severed by Self Betrayal”. Bringing nothing new to the table, I found myself feeling like I’ve heard these tracks before in better forms from acts such as As I Lay Dying or Haste the Day.
Now that the negatives are out of the way, the production here is absolutely stellar. No instrument drowns another out with damn near perfect guitar leads and excellently mixed vocals. The prime example of this is in “Defining Moments” with harsh vocals, clean vocals, and chants layered across the track without sacrificing one another.
We get the best tracks back to back with “Holy Coward” and “Dream Thief”. The intro guitar solo in "Holy Coward" gets your blood pumping and the breakdown in the middle is infectious and impossible not to headbang to. Though the band is from Los Angeles, this is quintessential southern metalcore. With blistering chugs and pulsating double pedal, “Dream Thief” is another crowd pleaser. The atmospheric electronics towards the end of the final breakdown bring some much needed flavor. The closer is yet another treat. Taking pages from bands like After the Burial, the band explores new territory in “In the Night'' with considerable results although the ending is a bit abrupt.
Phinehas aren’t the best band in metalcore, but they’re definitely one of the most dependable acts release after release. You know what you’re getting and sometimes that’s all you want. With most bands chasing trends, Phinehas stick to the roots that popularized the subgenre in the mid 2000’s with great results. If you’re a fan of good old fashioned metalcore,
The Fire Itself will satiate your hunger.
Score: 3.8/5
