Hardcore bands from France have largely remained hidden to US audiences while groups from The Netherlands or Germany have found many ways to earn exposure abroad. FIRE AT WILL  has had the good fortune to release their music in part through I For Us Records, a Belgium label who has seeming done a lot to get their bands heard here, with a bit of luck for FIRE AT WILL, that will stay the case. This four piece plays a fairly traditional mix of 90s style and modern metallic hardcore. Think DOWN TO NOTHING with the melodic sensitivities of COMEBACK KID and maybe even a little bit of 88 FINGERS LOUIE (a band they’ve been on a tribute comp for, and not-so-coincidentally, this LP was mastered by Mr. Dan Precision). Vocalist Quentin Rettig has as unique a growl as I have ever heard in hardcore, a strained amalgamation of Euro-accented Ray Cappo yelp and screamin’ Daryl Palumbo. It’s mostly pleasant, acceptably aggressive, and occasionally wretched. The other distinctive quality to FIRE AT WILL – and this was something I spotted on their prior EP Today Is Mine – drummer Laurent Agest is double-bass trigger happy. If there’s some break in the action or a fill that needs some extra spice, Agest is there with some extra foot movement.  It’s not quite a distraction, but some restraint on the part of Agest might be wise on future recordings. Hoping For The Best… is worth checking out for its creative mixing of various influences and its high energy level…. just watch out for those off-the-rails vocal acrobatics.

I For Us Records