Cars On Fire have been blazing a trail for heartfelt, gimmick free, face melting punk rock since 2006. Taking the energy and integrity of Refused, mashing it up with the neolithic riffing of Helmet, then gluing it all together with choruses so addictive they make Heroin seem like a mild pain killer, Cars On Fire are a band that you cannot afford to ignore.
Their new album, ‘Black Hearts and Bloody Hands’, is a bold and dynamic statement. A primal scream that all but DEMANDS your attention. Clearly following on from the success of 2009′s ‘Dig Your Own Grave’ (a record that saw the band draw support from the likes of Scuzz, Kerrang TV, the Radio 1 Rock Show, XFM, TotalRock, Kerrang, Rock Sound, Total Guitar and Big Cheese), it explodes out of the gate with the monolithic ‘Borders’ – a thundering riff fest that sounds like four men fighting in a sack. Like so much of the ten track album, it is the sound of a call to arms for the disenfranchised and the plain pissed off.
The hypnotic, rolling sludge of ‘Of Grace and Bone’ features a vocal contribution from Fightstar’s Charlie Simpson – a fan of the band who went as far as taking the guys out on an extensive UK tour. And try listening to the angular gut punch of ‘Rhythm & Command’ without fearing for somebody’s life!!
The Bristol based quartet have been fuelled by a difficult couple of years, where despite critical acclaim and a rabid fanbase they have struggled in the mire of the modern music industry. Following an intense period of activity (playing Sonisphere, Boardmasters, Hevi and Guilfest… shows with Fighting With Wire, Senser, Skindred, Orange Goblin and a hundred others) the band found themselves battling industry apathy and the usual tribulations of a punk rock band fighting to survive.
Indeed frontman Ali Ross decided to prepare for the intensity of a new album, and the resultant slab of life on the road, by taking a break from band life and heading out to sea to fight Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean….no REALLY!! “I needed to get away, as the band was turning into a dangerous and out of control habit that was driving us all crazy, so took a job as security on board ships transiting through the Indian Ocean. Needless to say, fighting pirates was no less dangerous! There was a lot of action whilst I was out there, it definitely put me in the right mindset for a new Cars On Fire album!’
With a new video imminent and a November Tour due to be announced Watch this space for more from the most talked about band of the year!!!
Links:
http://www.myspace.com/carsonfireband
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cars-On-Fire-fan-page/111568525575774
