CD Review: Through Fire – “Breathe” (Sumerian Records)
More a simple name change rather than a rebirth, Through
Fire picks up exactly where Emphatic (check out their 2013 album Another Life if you don’t recognize the
name) left off on their powerful debut Breathe,
combining the arena rock prowess of Breaking Benjamin with the passionate
delivery of Skillet. Through Fire introduce their sonic dynamic right from the
jump on the heady “Breakout,” pairing melodic vocals with commanding riffs and
authoritative percussion to create powerful hooks, a formula that quickly
becomes the central theme of Breathe
(“Stronger,” “Take It All Away,” “Dead Inside,” “Blood On My Hands”). The
obligatory rock ballad is “Breathe,” which, while a tad predictable, displays
the bands ability to shift into another gear entirely. Save for an excellent
guitar solo, the band’s take on Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” is mostly a
swing-and-miss, though they save some face by delivering a pretty rousing cover
of Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts.” The Deluxe Edition of Breathe features acoustic versions of
two of the album’s best tracks, “Breathe” and “Stronger,” which perfectly
showcase Grant Joshua Kendrick’s powerful vocals. Breathe is impressive, and this is only Through Fire’s debut.
Grade: B
Go Download: “Stronger”
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