HELL FIRE – Mania

San Francisco’s Hell Fire describe their third album “…warmly condenses elements of influences like Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Exodus, Metallica, Riot, Virtue and Diamond Head into 10 tracks of headbanging MUYA anthems;” and describe their sound as a “… hybrid of NWOBHM theatrics and American thrash attitude.”

While the band exhibits their influences with little pretense, their attempt to warmly condense them fails dramatically. This becomes glaringly obvious after the opening track. The high speed album launch of “Warpath” glosses over the flaws. The slower tempo of “Mania” which follows exposes the weakness of the rhythm section and vocals.

The bass guitar forsakes the low end and employs a fuzzy tone forcing it to fight on the same sonic landscape as the guitars. The drums are fluffy and punch less. A sound more “Puff The Magic Dragon” than “Dragon Attack.” The emasculated rhythm section leaves the vocals to battle with the guitars for dominance. The vocals are prominently mixed and the vocalist is rarely restrained. There is nothing remarkable about vocals constantly sung at full force and strained to the breaking point. The resulting battle is a draw. The combination dooms the product to mediocrity which could’ve been avoided with a competent producer at the helm.

Hell Fire says, “sonically we want our records to sound like you’re standing in front of the stage at a show. The power of Marshall stacks in front of your face, drums at your ear level, thunder of the bass and feeling the presence of the room.” Regrettably, this sound isn’t captured on Mania due to runaway vocals and a rhythm section mixed into irrelevancy. Pass on the album, but they’re probably a safe bet live.

TUNE INTO METALEXPRESSRADIO.COM at NOON & MIDNIGHT (EST) / 6:00 & 18:00 (CET) TO HEAR THE BEST TRACKS FROM THIS UPCOMING RELEASE!!!

TRACKLIST (Highlights: 1, 8 )

1. Warpath
2. Mania
3. On The Loose
4. Born To Burn
5. Transcending Evil
6. Lashing Out
7. Isolator
8. The Dreamer
9. Knights Of The Holy
10. Masochist

LINEUP

Mike Smith: Drums
Tony Campos: Guitars
Jake Nunn: Vocals/Guitar
Herman Bandala: Bass