Phinehas: The Fire Itself Review
Southern California’s Phinehas will drop their 5th studio album August 27th, via Solid State Records. With the pandemic causing a forced shutdown, the group simmered in a state of reflection. They took time to process the last few years and, for Sean McCulloch specifically, acknowledge and face some of the darker parts of life he had ignored.
"Stillness amplified some struggles I knew I had but hadn't processed," notes McCulloch. "For the first time, I had to deal head-on with fear and anxiety." Through therapy and self-realization
This resulted in The Fire Itself, a transparent outpouring of McCulloch's internal thoughts. Intentional, painful, and wholly authentic, the album presses into what it's like to be a broken human being. Instrumentally the album is just as thoughtful but with drums that will kick a hole in your chest, and guitars that will shred your skin from your bones.
The opening track Eternally Apart is a high energy shredders dream. It is a powerful song for the opener, coming in at just over 5 minutes it really sets the expectations of the album very high and gives a great sample of what fans can expect to come from this album as a whole. Packed full of riffs and double bass drum kicks, this track is going to be insane when played live. There is no doubt that fans are already a fan of this track since it’s debut as a leading single to promote the album.
Next we have The Fire Itself, we all know that the title track for an album has to be an absolute beast. This is not a disappointment, there is a reason that the album was named after this track. Melodic vocals with never ending guitar riffs and brutal, guttural, primal screams set this track as a front runner for track of the album.
Thorns comes in next, “Trust requires thorns” is screamed out and I think it is such an important reminder that while you should absolutely trust in others, you also need to have thorns to protect yourself from those that would cut you down. I may be getting too deep on this, and maybe we will have the guys on the podcast to find out, but I think it’s kind of like a rose bush, the flowers are beautiful, and they smell great, but if you aren’t careful the stem will stick you with a thorn.
Following that you have War You Know and Defining Moments. These tracks are heavy and speak on the topics in the title pretty clearly. The War You Know tackles those demons you’ve carried around and battled for so long. Defining Moments is just that, taking a moment and making a choice because of it. Let it beat you, or learn a lesson and stand back up. Holy Coward continues the feeling of the prior 2 tracks, keeping the tempo up and slamming the listener with chunky riffs and heavy drums. The track is going to be a stand out at shows for sure.
Dream Thief offers a powerful questions to kick off the song, “Who are you when your dream is dead?”. It is a gut punch that I think a lot of people need. “Was it worth your life, for nothing in the end; Remember all the blood you’ve bled; Is it wasted, when your dream is dead” is such a powerful set of lyrics of perseverance, and pushing through the struggle. Often when things don’t go to plan, or a dream falls apart for some reason, people just give up, but that should be the time that you fight even harder for what you want. The vocals are going to resonate with every listen and give them an eye opening reality check.
The “softest” track on the album is The Storm In Me. A track of reflection, and coming to terms with the thoughts in your head. It is a track that begs for help, as someone that has dealt with mental health issues for a majority of their life, this track is a feeling that I know all too well. Closing the track with the lyrics “I am not strong enough to calm the storm in me” holds a double meaning for me, on one side it is the coming to terms with the fact that I need to ask for help, but on the other hand its the feeling of losing control of your thoughts and them taking hold.
Severed By Betrayal picks the pace back up and gets listeners back to high energy moshing. Bringing back the heavy guitars and drums, the vocals on this track blend melodic clean vocals, chants, and brutal screams.
And closing out the album is In The Night. The track will hook listeners and become an anthem of healing, and redemption of sorts. “You were not shaped to fold, but forged to be bold in the path you seek” is an empowering lyric that is going to stick with listeners and should be the mantra for everyone. It is the ideal track to close out the album because it hits listeners with the heavy sonic sound they’ve gotten through the album, but also leaves a lasting impression with the closing lyrics. “Death falls like a hammer from the heavens”.
The Fire Itself Tracklisting:
Eternally Apart
The Fire Itself
Thorns
War You Know
Defining Moments
Holy Coward
Dream Thief
The Storm In Me
Severed By Self Betrayal
In The Night
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