Fire & Ice is a groove infused hardcore band out of Richmond, Virginia. Their newest release, Not of This Earth has been put out on Reaper Records. Opening for legendary acts and touring consistently with some of the best in the game, these guys are quickly going to the top of everyone’s lists as far as newer hardcore bands go. They intertwine fast and aggressive metallic hardcore with the groove of the 90’s into something truly powerful even if not fully original.
We’ve all seen the trend of 90’s hardcore bands starting to influence the modern sound more and more. Bands like Biohazard who have always had a solid fan base have been more influential it seems in the song writing for many newer bands as the hardstyle sound is being brought further into the focal point of hardcore. Fire & Ice is not pushing any major boundaries with this release but it’s a great album and a fitting homage to classics in the genre. They are one of the few silver linings in a saturated style of hardcore that only so many people know how to play correctly.
The album as a whole is a non-stop groove, the kind of writing that you can’t wait to see live. Unrelenting power from a band that no doubt grew up looking for the heaviest music until they realized had to start writing it themselves. This album is structured more like an old thrash album than anything else but rings true with the new breed of hardcore. Not of this earth is produced in the best way possible to accentuate everything without over doing it, however the vocals don’t seem to match the strength of the instruments. At points where you would typically anticipate more emotion or more emphasis, his voice stays on a monotone level. This is the main downfall of an otherwise amazing band. I couldn’t quite pick a favorite song but "The Sky’s The Limit" and "Numb" were definitely up there. There are some catchy riffs that just get you ready for war and those songs display it very well.
Not of This Earth is a great album for any fan of the heavier side of hardcore even with it’s few downsides. If you get the chance to pick it up or to see them live, I highly suggest that you do. Fire & Ice is a band to watch out for as they are only going to improve.
