Band: I Set My Friends On Fire
Album title: Astral Rejection
Label: Epitaph
Distributor: PIAS
Release date: 20/06/2011
Release: CD

I Set My Friends On Fire is a very, read 'very', experimental rock band from Miami. The album kicks off with a perfect example of that experimental touch. It starts with heavy breakdowns and screams and immediately changes into clean vocals.
The next song, Infinite Sucks, starts with an electronic part as if you were playing a 90's video game and yes indeed, then again the variation between clean vocals and screams kicks in again. At times, they make me think of Bring Me The Horizon, especially vocally and at other times, they make me think of the early days of the German band War From A Harlots Mouth, because of the jazzy elements in the music.
I Set My Friends On Fire isn't just very creative vocally or musically, song titles such as My Paralyzed Brother Taps His Foot To This Beat prove that they are also very creative when it comes down to lyrics and song titles. Although this song rather sounds as a drum'n'bass song, it still proves that this band isn't afraid of trying to combine musical genres.
Astral Rejection proves that I Set My Friends On Fire is a band to watch who will definitely surprise many with this album. The cover might look a bit strange, well, wait until you have listened to this record. Don't forget to catch them during their European tour with A Skylit Drive, October 13th at AB, Brussels.

87/100

Nick Tronckoe.