An act who’ve made steady progress since their arrival on the rock scene in 2022, The Fires Below aren’t shy of a huge riff. On their second EP (2024’s ‘Thorns’), the dual guitar attack from Sam and Smithy attacked with a real edge, and on ‘No Man’s Land’ in particular, a massive buzzsaw-like sound, underscored by Si’s throbbing bass work, made this still relatively new band sound like a force to be reckoned with. It’s no surprise, then, that the band are able to summon an even bigger sound on stage.
For those yet to see The Fires Below live, the ‘Crouch End Sessions’ EP will offer some consolation. Its three previously unreleased tracks capture the band in their most natural and raw state. The live in the studio format allows The Fires Below to truly cut loose, and from the opening of ‘The Crows Can Wait’ the dirty guitar sound pushes the band from their previous grubby sounding hard rock further into the realms of classic stoner, with the riff attacking like something that falls between Orange Goblin and The Black Vultures. The heaviness isn’t relegated to a driving verse, either; a sludgy sounding middle eight intensifies the filthy edge and increases the really pleasing stoner aesthetic. Perhaps most impressively, all of the heaviness and rawness in the world never seems to detract from the kind of chorus that seems designed to get the band’s audience shouting.
Opting for something even heavier, bassist Si leads the charge on ‘The Storm’, delivering a riff that sounds like a muddy cousin to White Zombie’s classic ‘Black Sunshine’, before the rest of the band fall in line and craft the perfect blend of sludgy grooves and shrill lead work. Once everything hits its stride, this feels like the culmination of all of this band’s heavy experiments to date. It is, perhaps, a surprise to hear a riff creeping in towards the end of this thunderous number that tips the hat towards more of a trad metal sound – and especially so, given how Smithy’s shouty hardcore vocals mightn’t sit comfortably with an old school metal audience – but it’s great to hear the band being unafraid to celebrate metal’s glorious past. Chorus wise, this feels like a decent companion to the opening number, since its direct approach will greet the audience very naturally. Taking a little more of a crashy route ‘Hypocrisy’ opens with a muddy guitar riff, but a strong presence from Del behind the drum kit gives everything a lift. This allows the dual attack of Smithy’s rhythm guitar and Sam’s stronger lead work to have more power, and by straddling the chasm between alternative metal and melodic hardcore, the number comes with a genuine punch. Lyrically, it isn’t as immediate, but that doesn’t matter when the riffs are so strong, and are already proven to sound superb in a live setting.
For those who’ve heard this band’s previous two EPs, ‘Crouch End Sessions’ will still be a treat. An aggressive treat, granted, but this is a threesome of heavy workouts that really delivers. The vocals are possibly going to divide opinion, but there’s still potential here to attract new fans, especially those metalheads who are more than happy to latch onto bloody enormous riffs and let the music speak for itself.
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‘Crouch End Sessions’ isn’t just another audio release. The digital download is strong, and certainly gives the feeling of this band pushing forward, but the material really comes to life with the help of an accompanying film. Featuring the band hammering through the material, presented with a huge amount of gusto in a very natural environment, and augmented by some rather fun interviews, the video version is arguably the definitive way to experience this trio of tracks. [The full film can be watched below.]
May 2025