Band : On Fire

Album title : Masquerades

Label : Shield Recordings

Distributor : Shield Recordings

Release date : 17/03/2008

Release : Digipak CD

No exact idea when this sextet from the South of the Netherlands first started out, but this is already their 2 nd full-length, following the 2003 6-track mini-C D D reaming, Not Dying (released through Buttkick Records ), the band's 2004 split 7-inch with Superhero , and 2006's full-length debut Truckstop Armageddon (also on Shield Recordings).

The sextet comprised of two singers Sander and Roel (the latter also doin' some additional percussion, something which occasionally is very evident), two guitarists Gijs and Hugo , bassist Joost , and drummer Arno has a rather strong work ethic, which has seen them do over 300 showss in their career, and has seen them gigging not only all over Holland, but also in Belgium, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic. With strong DIY ethics, they recorded the new album on their own, then had the recordings mixed by Nico van Montfoort (of XYZ Sound ), and got the CD mastered by the illustrous Alan Douches.

Musically, the band brings an exhilerating mixture of swirling up-tempo and mostly oldschool melodic Hardcore with influences from both catchy Heavy Metal (let's not exagerate about the percentages) and groovy Hard Rock (always a plus in making Hardcore more attractive), topped by double (mostly screamed, and very occasionally calmer without becoming Emo) lead vocals. Which certainly sounds good on paper! However, when listening to the actual product, you'll find out that some things went wrong with the vocals, which are regrettably put somewhat in the background of the total mix. There's also something not quite right with the sound on the drums (sound like as if the mikes might've been set up wrongly, which makes the sound of the drums off somehow). Pity, because as far as the structure and musical filling of the songs goes, you can certainly say this is a very interesting band (the occasional additional percussion is óne of the things that jump out first in my mind) With 10 songs on the album, you only get a good 29 minutes worth of listening time...which does however give one the chance to give the album two listening sessions in one hour, thus creating the slight addicted feel the music induces when listened to a certain amount of times.

If you're into catchy melodic Hardcore, Dutch band On Fire is one of the acts you should check out. Listen to mp3-files of two songs off the new album (plus two more off the debut full-length) posted at myspace.com/setitonfire...and enjoy.  

84/100

Tony.