Review

Anime Fire - Where The Wolves Fear To Tread

20.11.2007 | Cam | 3 Comments

Genre: Metal/Hardcore/Breakbeat
For Fans Of: Underoath - The Amity Affliction - Atreyu
Favourite Songs: Venom
Running Time: 25:48
Year: 2007
Website Link: http://www.animefire.com
Myspace Link: http://www.myspace.com/wherethewolvesfeartotread

Score: 49

I don't get it...

REVIEW.

Over the last few years Perth has been a breeding ground for amazing musical talent. Miles Away, Elora Danan and Gyroscope are all bands who have broken free from the constraints of the world's most isolated capital city and taken their show on the road. Unfortunately for Anime Fire they have neither the chops nor the songs to compete with their local comrades, because this EP falls short on all fronts.

Firstly (and I need to get this out of the way), the production is absolutely terrible. I'm not sure if this is what Anime Fire were trying to achieve (or maybe the engineer knocked off a bottle of Jack before tracking the thing) but the six songs on offer sound awful. The cymbals are way too loud, the guitars sound like they're dropping in and out and the vocals are nowhere near high enough in the mix. I'm all for experimentation, but releasing a poorly recorded EP doesn't qualify as progressive in my book.

As for the songs themselves some parts show some promise but overall everything's a bit of a mess. There's some cool guitar work on display but the sound quality makes it difficult to pick particular riffs apart (or enjoy the EP at all actually).

Anime Fire's claim to fame is their use of electronics within their metal meets hardcore sound, but the synth element of the band isn't as integrated as someone like Enter Shikari, so it just sounds like samples are being used when the guys ran out of parts for a song. As for the vocals, the singer sounds like a cross between that clown from Atreyu and the guy from Korn... seriously.

CONCLUSION.

When it comes to reviewing Australian bands I usually do my best to find something positive about the release and focus on that, but I really struggled with Anime Fire. One thing I did enjoy was the packaging, but if the artwork is the most impressive thing about an EP then I think the band may be in a bit of trouble.

Fingers crossed that Anime Fire's songs sound better in the live surrounding.