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Hell's Fire - "Rest in Riffs"

JamesT

By JamesT
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JamesT Mentor

JamesT

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Where to start with this album...

This is one amazing slab of southern/groove metal that just doesn't let up from start to finish.  Taking its cues from the likes of PanterA, Down, and Exhorder, Hell's Fire brings the goods on this one.  The opening track, "Call of the Swamp", while an instrumental, sets the listener up beautifully for what's to come.  The following two tracks "The Hearse" and "Never Too High" bring that smooth southern flavor to the mix quite well.  But the first big standout is the fourth track, "Nightstalker".  This is one behemoth of a song - crushingly heavy and relentlessly groovy.  They even include a very brief soundbite from Richard Ramirez, the real-life serial killer branded "The Nightstalker" for his string of horrific crimes beginning in the mid 1980s.  In the following track, "Same Old Story", the vocalist channels his inner James Hetfield toward the end of the chorus.  And it's another bruiser.  

And then we come to the best of the best on this juggernaut of an album:  the sixth track, "March of the Witch".  This is one of my favorite groove metal songs, period.  The final couple of minutes of the song in particular are heavy and full of groove.  It has a thunderous ending befitting of such a monumental song.  It is literally impossible not to bang your head while this song crushes you.  Some other standouts in the back half of the track listing are "The Mirror", "Muddy Bottom", and "Trust".  

The final 3 tracks on the bonus-track edition of the album are all cover songs, and every single one is killer.  The best of these, though, is clearly the cover of the Down classic "Bury Me in Smoke".  There couldn't be a more fitting band for Hell's Fire to cover, and they do an incredible job on this one.  And as much as it might sound sacrilegious to die-hard Down fans, it is my humble opinion that the cover these guys do is just as good, if not better, than the original.  The cover of Black Sabbath's "Neon Knights" is also very good.  

As a groove metal fan above all else, this album could not be more perfect for me.  But don't just take my word for it.  If you like what you've read so far, check this album out for yourself.  It's got grooves a-plenty, a smooth southern flavor, and a vocalist who fits this style perfectly.  This guy can sing fairly cleanly but can also bark the lyrics with a snarl that effortlessly blends with this wonderful music.  Every once in awhile, you'll find a hidden gem, if you look hard enough.  I discovered this gem almost 5 years ago, and I can put it on and enjoy it anywhere, any time.  So, happy listening, my fellow metalheads!  This album will crush you!!

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AlSymerz Grand Master

AlSymerz

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When I read such a glowing review of something I tend to turn off immediately. It's not you, it's me and it happens on everything not just music. Sometimes I do go back and give the product a chance other times I don't, in this case however I did.

I might not rate this album as high as you, but it is pretty darn good. When I first read it I thought they might have been a bit like Dezperadoz, the southern thrash band Tom Angelripper started with his producer. There is quite a few similarities and for me Dezperadoz is probably preferred but these guys do their shit well and it's a good listen!

 

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JamesT Mentor

JamesT

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22 hours ago, KillaKukumba said:

When I read such a glowing review of something I tend to turn off immediately. It's not you, it's me and it happens on everything not just music. Sometimes I do go back and give the product a chance other times I don't, in this case however I did.

I might not rate this album as high as you, but it is pretty darn good. When I first read it I thought they might have been a bit like Dezperadoz, the southern thrash band Tom Angelripper started with his producer. There is quite a few similarities and for me Dezperadoz is probably preferred but these guys do their shit well and it's a good listen!

 

Awesome!  Glad to hear it!  Yeah, I like Dezperadoz quite a bit, myself.  I stumbled upon Hell's Fire about 4 or 5 years ago, and this album just really resonated with me in a way that isn't too common anymore.  Southern/groove metal is my thing, and this one hit me hard.  I appreciate you reading my review!  It's just great to have the chance to talk about heavy music and give some props to a band that might not be very widely known but that I really dig.   As a matter of fact, I'm getting ready to listen to this album all the way through for about the hundredth time now!  Rock on!

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AlSymerz Grand Master

AlSymerz

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I listened to all three albums on Bandcamp and they do have a good sound. I kind of expected a little more out of 11 Roads to Hell, like maybe songs with a connection to the title instead of just 11 songs, but then I guess that would have made it a concept album. I also like the cover art of Rest in Riffs, although the cover of The Doors wasn't that good, but Neon Knights was.

I don't know that I'm the biggest southern/groove fan out there but I have found over the years that some of the bands lumped in the category are not very good and that makes it harder to find bands like this.

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