From the east coast comes angst-filled metal-core. Spitfire has been around for quite some time but have only recently been picked up by a "major" label. You may have heard a song off this disc on the This Is Solid State sampler that came out awhile back, but let me tell you now, that song is one of the least listenable on the album. I have no idea why that song "Render Quench Create" made it onto the sampler when other songs such as "Marasmus", "Good Cop, Bad Cop", and "What Ever Happened To The Indie Queen" didn't make it. Well in the case of "Marasmus", and "WEHTTIQ" they were previously on another Spitfire EP.
Anyways on to the album..... I like this album quite a bit. It's REAL heavy on the drums (maybe because of Jesse Smith being a drummer and producing it?) but it's not a bad thing. Recorded at Trax East in New Jersey where such legends as Snapcase have recorded doesn't hurt. The guitar is tough, crunchy and tight. But the best thing about how this album sounds is the bass guitar tone, I absolutely LOVE it. It is thick and full, with just enough distortion on top to give it that edge bass needs. Some parts of the album just make the bass sound even tighter when the bass is grooving and the guitar is squealing. I like, yes I like.
The lyrics are poetic and meaningful. "Marasmus" has strong words of our generation searching for something to fill our empty lives. "The Two Forty Eight Lie" deals with everyday life and the droning that so many put themselves to. The lyrics stand alone as spoken word, they are that good.
To wrap it up I would recommend this to anyone into Converge or other bands of such genre. Definitely one to check out.
ps and another great thing about this band.... you don't have to order merch or wait for them to come near your town to buy merch... just go to your local skate shop.
9/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #78Reviewed by Ben MengdenWith each listen, this album shows the intricacies which are the strength to this style. The name fits the band well. The vocals are aggro and fiery. Very mature hardcore vocals with enough growl and pitch to remind the listener of grind and death metal. And the guitar equals the vocals. Amazing changes... These guys will probably get compared to Embodyment about a bazillion times, but Spitfire…Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by John SantThese guys are definitely innovative and have created a genre that is completely their own. It's an odd combination of off-time drumbeats coupled with melodic, chugging guitars. And while this sounds pretty standard, it isn't at all. Sadly, this doesn't save Spitfire from creating one too many songs that plod along to the end. This band has SO much potential, it's insane. There's innovation…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestHere's another metalcore product from the Solid State Records roster. Compared to other bands from the label, Spitfire can be described as a cross between Embodyment and Training For Utopia. It has the diversity of riffs that succeed each other from Embodyment. It has the chaotic structures from TFU. Sometimes there are fast parts as fast as the speed of light (like Embodyment) but most of the…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Justin W. JonesIf madness and poetry were to produce children, their children would be Spitfire. This trio from Virginia Beach doesn't sound very nice ... or do they? That's the problem with this album: just when you think you've figured out their style, the band stops and switches it up. For the most part, The Dead Next Door is hardcore music with raging vocals, scorching guitars, and melodic bridges. I think…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by UnknownI bet a lot of you have heard the Steadfast Radiowaves & Gibberish comp. Yep, that had SPITFIRE on it. I am afraid that if your excuse for not buying The Dead Next Door is that you didn't like the song on the Steadfast cd, then you need to find a new one. This sounds like a totally different band. Solid State made no error in signing this amazing three-piece metalcore act. Now that I have that…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by GrindboyAnybody who had the experience of flying a combat helicopter in the Gulf War should have a pretty good handle on what it's like listening to the Solid State debut of Spitfire. Since that's probably not many of you, though, you can compare it to Embodyment pretty easily, too. Lots of chaotic abrasive death-core type stuff, and done well. The songs don't really appear to have any particular…Similar sounding releases
2003ZaoLegendary
2001Brain:FAQBrainstorming
2001Will HavenCarpe Diem
2004ComityThe Deus Ex-Machina As a Forgotten Genius (Andy Warhol Sucks)
1999Few Left StandingRegeneration of Self
2000Figure FourNo Weapon Formed Against Us
