Two EPs in 2019 and 2020 have paved the way for the full-length debut from Chicago thrash trio Misfire. An interesting choice of name I thought, but luckily for the band their album isn’t quite a misfire, although it does feature a few stalls along the way.
The first thing you notice as opening track “Fractured” kicks in, is the Pantera groove. A grand, slow burning fuse of an intro doesn’t immediately the dots, the riffs thick and heavy, all muscular flexing, but once the starting flag is raised, then the comparisons are inevitable. Now, this may partly be due to the vocals of Jay Johnson, whose Anselmo-like delivery is at times uncannily close. There is a big stomp, a huge bass sound of co-vocalist Sean Coogan and an underlying groove that sits closer to Lamb of God than the Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth influences listed in their PR.
Whilst it’s always a tendency to seek out similar sounds and styles in a band’s music, Misfire are at least a little more subtle, appearing more to nod to Pantera rather than plagiarise them. There’s a degree of pulling in other styles that help to expand Misfire’s wider sound. There’s a brutal crossover thrash beast lurking on “Red Flag” whilst “War of Mine” snarls with aggression. The challenge here is to glean something new or original that might lift Misfire from within the huge arena of thrash bands that are jostling for attention within a crowded genre.
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There are certainly flashes of excitement. The sheer intensity on “Skin of Mirrors” sees the band drift close to death metal territory before slipping back to a rampant, early era Sepultura style. The groove remains but is buried beneath a solid mix, avoiding the comparison. That all changes on “Death Trap”, which is almost the successor to “Walk”, such is the similarity. And therein is the challenge which Misfire face. They impress on first listen, the familiar riffs and grooves promising much, with their powerful full-force attack but a couple of listens fail to draw out anything that is contemporary or fresh. Songs like “No Offense” are well crafted and big on sound but this is music that Anthrax brought three decades ago. It’s perfectly acceptable and very well played, the urge to bang the head surfaces and occasionally even demands it. And yet, the lack or originality means that it all feels a bit repetitive. Listen to “R.I.P” and tell me that the riff from “Foot to the Throat” doesn’t grab you after the first intro. I think you’ll be wrong.
Sympathy for the Ignorant is a solid, muscular release. It’s enjoyable and at times I found myself wanting to circle pit. And yet there is a niggle at the back of the mind. That niggle says that this has all been done before. If I want to listen to Slayer or Dark Angel, then that’s where I am likely to go. That may come across as harsh, for this isn’t a bad album. It just lacks some of the originality and wider subtlety that several of their contemporaries possess. If Misfire can hone their craft, their sophomore release should be a more interesting affair.
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Sympathy For the Ignorant is out on 1st April
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