Metal Hammer (UK)

Fire From The Gods

NARRATIVE RETOLD

- Groove-laden nu metalcore troupe take a personal journey ROB BARBOUR

Given the internatio­nally nomadic childhood of frontman AJ Channer, one of the most remarkable things about Fire From The Gods is how unremarkab­le they can sound. Their second album sees them stray tantalisin­gly close to blending the soulful, political hardcore of Letlive with the bounce and accessibil­ity of nu metal.

AJ has an incredible voice, and their rhythm section can bring the groove when it needs to, and it’s refreshing to hear a band with something to say – it’s just a shame they aren’t saying it in a more exciting way. Excuse Me, the most successful product of the band’s alchemy, sees AJ alternatin­g between crooning, hip hop and dancehall styles over stop-start droptuned riffs, but overall the album’s let down by a frequent reliance on tired metalcore tropes.

Fine for the most part and in places even quite good, but it’s a lack of consistenc­y that holds Narrative Retold back from being something worth shouting about.

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