Balefire

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Band(s): Balefire
Label(s): Iron Bonehead Productions
Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, EP
Release Year: 2025
Review Date: March 1, 2025
Author(s): Brione McGuinness, FelixS

This 12” EP, simply called ‘Balefire’ is the debut of this new band bearing the same name. But while this may be a new band on the Death Metal firmament, its individual members are far from novices. In the ranks we find musicians who have earned their stripes in bands such as Incantation, Bloodstorm and Blood Loss. With the accumulation of a lot of experience and expertise, this band has everything to grow into an interesting contender on the otherwise somewhat collapsed Death Metal scene. But let’s first concentrate on this maiden feat…

If we’d start with a conclusion of sorts, ‘Balefire’ is not a record that will change the course of Death Metal, nor will it completely knock you off your socks. But, what’s on offer is very solid and well-executed Death Metal that will appeal to the fans of early Vital Remains, Imprecation, Acheron, Infester and the likes. Evil Death Metal that harbours some eerie melodies and appealing dynamics that remind of the Death Metal days of yore.

On the vocal department Balefire is serving you with extremely low gurgling growls that actually is the one thing that has much more of a contemporary feel to it. But it also distracts a bit from the musical antics that are far more interesting. I wouldn’t go as far as saying these are the weakest link, but they are for sure too loud in the mix, clearly drowning out the rest somewhat.

Anyone who likes their Death Metal both murky and Old School (the American way) and with great musicianship, should definitely give this 14-minute 12” EP a shot. Its appealing leads and typical riffs are a true treat to those who cherish 90’s evil Death Metal. (FelixS)

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Balefire, an offshoot of creativity forged by Incantation’s Chuck Sherwood, burst into the underground Death Metal scene with their first and self-titled release, made available by Iron Bonehead Productions.

This debut mini-album is filled full of unorthodox riffing and crushingly fast double bass, in the vain of Deicide and obviously Incantation, as seen in tracks such as ‘Sands of Gemini’ and ‘Lord of the Red Lands’. While you may think unorthodox riffing is a given for any release throughout the expansive genre of Death Metal, this release interests me with riffs that sound like the musical equivalent of nails slowly dragging down a chalkboard but not in a way that deters you from the release but intrigues you more than anything. In simpler terms if you are a fan of the more harrowing Angelcorpse riffs you’ll love this record! An example of such riffs leads me back to the riff at around the halfway mark of the opening song ‘Sands of Gemini’.

While I don’t think this release will reinvent the meaning of Death Metal as we know it today, it will still prove a decent listen for any of those morbid maniacs who dig the brutality of the modern day Death Metal scene. (Brione McGuinness)

VM-UNDERGROUND

Extreme Metal Fanzine est. 2012

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