Victim of Fire unleash a fiery assault with its third release, The Old Lie. The Denver based quartet fuse d-beat, melodic death metal, and a pinch of black metal to stunning effect on this release. Speed is the key ingredient, and the band rarely relents on Lie. The title track has a Gothenburg style death metal influence with regards to the riffs and guitar harmonies, with a dose of hardcore drumming for added intensity. It is a superb opener that gets the head banging. “Apocalyptic Inclination” continues the onslaught, with d-beat drumming interspersed with bursts of blast beats. An audio sample of President Eisenhower’s farewell address, warning of the military industrial complex, is heard midway, as the band slows down for a sorrowful guitar lead before speeding things up at the end. “Wayward Light” is the shortest song on the album, and is a straight on thrasher. Guitarists Austin and Emily unleash some buzz saw riffs that rip through flesh and bone.
“Nightmares of Ceasefire” provides a slight break from the brutality, opening with clean guitars before bursting into overdrive! The chaotic nature of the riffs and pummeling drums creates the frenzy of a battlefield. “Discordance” emphasizes the band’s punk rock influence, but it is not out of place on the album. It is a fast tune with a fun rhythm change during the midsection. “Front Towards Enemy” shows the band utilizing blast beats to stellar effect and exploring grindcore territory. “Disharmonist” clocks in at seven minutes-the longest track on Lie- but it never lingers. It begins with a bass line that builds up to a cool melodic jam that allows the listener to breathe before kicking into high gear. This is a fast track with some fantastic riffs straight reminiscent of At The Gates and In Flames. The band closes the album with a rendition of “Aces High” by Iron Maiden and it fits the theme of the album with lyrics of World War II fighter planes.
The Old Lie is 37 minutes of speed, aggression, and brutality. However, it is not a by the numbers album, as Victim of Fire throw out several curve balls. The band does not stick to one style, touching on death metal, grindcore, black metal, and punk all at once. The album is cohesive and the tracks flow with enough diversity to keep the record interesting. The production is great, particularly the guitars and drums which grab you from the speakers.
Victim of Fire keep the fires burning on The Old Lie. The album’s theme of war matches the music and the album title is from a poem by World War I soldier Wilfred Owen. This record should appease fans of extreme metal and hardcore. Victim of Fire have crafted a top notch album from start to finish. No lie about that.
Check out the band’s page here for news and merch: https://www.instagram.com/victimovfire/?hl=en
