Album Review – I Set My Friends On Fire – Astral Rejection
If it’s one thing I Set My Friends On Fire are good at, its giving a big fuck you to the music industry. The Floridian experimental hardcore outfit first came into light a god awful cover of Soulja Boy’s “Crank That” this garnered the band a large audience through Myspace. However ISMFOF did show some potential within the first record “You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter” and the brilliant single “Things That Rhyme With Orange” showing off what they were capable of.
With their second record “Astral Rejection” giving much of the same that their first effort did but more refined, it seems they are taking the genre to the next level in the vein of bands such as A Day To Remember.
Opening with single “It Comes Naturally” doing what “Things That Rhyme With Orange” did for the band, giving a completely melodic track, driven by synths and vocalist Matt Mehana’s signature growls and screams.
One thing that strikes me about this band is that when the record goes in one direction, it does a complete u-turn and goes into the complete opposite. Its tracks such as “Developer, The Horn” with relaxing synths and smooth vocals bringing the same vibe that a Breathe Carolina track would. Then its tracks such as “Narcissismfof” that turn the record into a complete weird amalgamation of screams, weird riffs and some messy drum tracks.
“Astral Rejection” could be considered like their first effort as some of the best and worst of the bands work, but what ISMFOF try to do they do it well, with the synth driven tracks leaving marks of mainstream success in reach. “Astral Rejection” is a good effort from the hardcore duo, the combination of their music may have been harder to sell, but what I Set My Friends On Fire are doing is taking it to the next level.
Rating 3/5
Personal Picks: “It Comes Naturally” and “Astral Rejection”
You can catch the band on tour in the UK with A Skylit Drive as main support, for dates and info on the band visit,
http://www.facebook.com/ismfofmusic
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