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RAVE IN FIRE
Sons Of A Lie

Iron Oxide (2022)
Rating: 8/10

Hailing from Madrid, this Spanish quartet is yet another promising act on the Iron Oxide label.

Rave In Fire originally formed seven years ago and in 2018 released their debut EP Chronicle Of A Timeless End. The current line-up of Selene Perdiguero (vocals), Juanjo Negrete (guitar), Sara Carretero (bass) and Jaime Susanna (drums) has been together since 2020.

Lead single ‘Shout’ opens the album up, and from the off its clear the band has an energy and drive – the sound is steeped in melody and there’s clearly a chemistry within the fold. The production is solid as the guitars shimmer and sizzle with a distinctive 80s quality, but this is more than just nostalgia-driven heavy rock.

‘Shout’ gallops from the fire with galloping percussion, a steaming bass, that exuberant axe work, and the powerhouse, commanding vocal attack of Selene Perdiguero. With all these qualities put together, Rave In Fire has released one of the best albums of the year, that nods to the 80s sound but sizzles like a pan introduced with a fresh recipe. ‘Shout’ is mesmerising, stomping and infectious with its thrashy flirtations, and it sets the tone for this driving fireball of a record that strikes like a meteorite.

For me, I hear lots of influences, and some of those could be deemed “modern”. A band such as fellow Spaniards Hitten springs to mind; y’know, that flashy, yet sturdy heavy rock with steely glints. But there’s such a warmth to this record, particularly with the melodious title track which has a sense of the mystical about its meatiness, bringing to mind the likes of Zed Yago and even Loudness as the riffs constantly rip and scorch to great effect.

‘Bite The Fire’ chugs with menace but the percussion kicks the track into a cool, breezy high time melody before the dust settles and then the combo adjoins to ascend beyond the sky. Everything feels epic and mature with strains of Dio and glints of Hellion.

‘The Healer’ creeps nicely, sizzling with atmosphere and mid-paced power, while ‘Never Forget’ follows with similar suspense and builds gloriously, and again there’s that rich guitar tone hinting at, dare I say it, George Lynch. But there’s just a wholesome feel to the whole damn album as ‘Set Me Free’ fizzes to a gallop, ‘Memories’ – lead by Sara Carretero’s bass – chugs breezily, and closer ‘The Last Night’ just stokes the fire further where a deep, rich soulful trundle unravels as an immense rock ballad of nodding percussion and stunning axe work.

It seems that Iron Oxide Records are ready to take on the world and you better be on board otherwise you’ll be cast into the fire like a lump of trash. Alongside Germany’s CobraKill, Rave In Fire is another band from the label’s roster to keep an eye on.

Neil Arnold

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