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Versatile and incendiary Austin, Texas-based quintet
Fire from the Gods bridge the gap between hardcore metal fury and hip-hop consciousness via a mosh pit-inducing sonic attack and socially and politically charged lyrics.
Fire from the Gods formed in 2010 with an original lineup that included guitarist Drew Walker and bassist Bonner Baker, as well as vocalist Eric July, guitarist Tony Esparza, and drummer Judson Curtis. They released their metalcore debut, Sleeping with Anchors & Mirrors, followed by the Sweet Lasting Revenge EP, before July, Esparza, and Curtis parted ways with the band. A re-formed lineup -- connected through the Headbang Program -- emerged in 2015, fronted by powerful frontman
AJ Channer and rounded out by guitarist Jameson Teat and drummer Richard Wicander.
Channer -- born in the Bronx and raised in London and Ghana -- injected the group with new focus and vitality, merging the band's aggressive style with thoughtful, often uplifting and socially conscious lyrics. Their sound took the intensity of
Sevendust and
Slipknot, and layered it with heavy grooves found at the cores of
P.O.D.,
Rage Against the Machine, and
Skindred.
The band signed with Rise Records for the release of their 2016 LP
Narrative, which was produced by
David Bendeth (
Paramore,
Of Mice & Men,
Breaking Benjamin). Written from the point of view of a minority man living in urban America,
Narrative put American society under a microscope, tackling topics like racism and abuse of power and balancing those with empowering underdog anthems. The following year, the band issued
Narrative Retold, a re-release of their 2016 album
Narrative with the addition of two new songs guest produced by
Korn's
Jonathan Davis. 2019's searing
American Sun dealt punitively with issues like political discord, environmental apathy, and technological overload. ~ Neil Z. Yeung