Denver, Colorado's stadium crust act VICTIM OF FIRE deliver an engulfing sonic experience with a significant focus on twin guitar harmonies. Seeking to set the stage ablaze with their new album and forthcoming tour dates around North America and Canada this September, The Old Lie that is set for release on August 1, 2025 via Human Future Records/Return Trip Records.
The Old Lie is a continuation of the bands sound from where they left off with Disembrace in 2022. This album also sees a shift in the band's creative process, being the first to include contributions from every live member. The title track kicks off the release with a somewhat divergent sound. Steering into the melo-death territory, VICTIM OF FIRE showcase the genre fusion aspect of their sound while still retaining their roots as a d-beat crust band. "The Old Lie"’s lyrics come from a poem by the English Poet Wilfred Owens, lifting the curtain behind the bleak realities experienced by soldiers in World War One.
Rife with harmonies, "Apocalyptic Inclination" exposes the 'warfare mindset' reinforced by politicians, especially in the US. "Wayward Light" continues the trajectory of the fast and melodic in a ferocious fury of riffs and harmonies. "Nightmares of Ceasefire" sees the fast and the furious endure, thematically exploring the perspectives of those who profit from war and death. "Soldiers Dream" is also influenced by Wilfred Owen's poem from which the song's title is taken. An enthralling combination of emotions, textures and tones, it's also the fastest track on the album.
A staple of the band's live shows "Discordance" was written from a more personal perspective about the process of adjusting to 'reality' following a period of touring. "Barren Path" sees VICTIM OF FIRE present an open and honest sharing of struggles with imposter syndrome. Shifting gears, "Front Towards enemy" embarks on a wild ride stylistically, deviating from the rest of the track list. Followed by "Disharmonist", the band's self proclaimed "magnum opus", the track original appeared as a single in 2021. For The Old Lie, it's been revamped with further harmonies and an increase in speed. VICTIM OF FIRE end with their own distinctive take on IRON MAIDEN's "Aces High".
About VICTIM OF FIRE:
Initially formed in 2016, the Denver hailing blackened crust ensemble began as a side project filling in a creative gap and available studio time. Now, almost a decade later, the quartet are preparing to unearth their third studio album, The Old Lie, and bring their explosive sound to the masses around the US and Canada.
Inspired by the likes of TRAGEDY, DISFEAR, IN FLAMES, DISMEMBER and IRON MAIDEN, Austin reveals his creative influences, "harmonized guitars have always been my favorite part of music ever since I discovered IRON MAIDEN at the age of 16, and I’ve just been trying to recreate it in my bands wherever I can. Also not being afraid to take a risk with a song of musical style to see if it connects. We aren’t trying to be the crustiest crust band, we want to blend a bunch of styles together to make something fun and energetic to play live."
VICTIM OF FIRE is:
Austin (Guitar/Vocals)
Dustin (Bass)
Emily (Guitar)
Marc (Drums)
Album Credits:
Producer: Austin Minney
Recording Studio: All Aces Studios, Evergroove
Engineer: Austin Minney
Mastering: Brad Boatright (Audiosiege)
Mixing: Austin Minney
Album Cover Artist: Dan Bones
