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This is one of those albums I knew I had to get as soon as
I heard about it. Blackfire’s latest is an ambitious sonic journey that
find them moving forward while trying to keep their current momentum. This first
disc shows the band tearing things up with the melodic punk sound full of aggressive guitar work, powerful song hooks, and
taking on elements of folk music, New Orleans style funk and ska on several occasions. Blackfire uses this disc to sing about way, government spying and control, the devastation and aftermath
of Katrina in New Orleans, oppression of indigenous people
and the like. The second disc is a collection of traditional Native American
songs sung in their native Dine language. Here they stick with the songs related
to dances and social parts of ceremonies (the sacred songs are only supposed to be used for ceremonies and healing purposes
and can’t be recorded). What emerges in the larger scheme here is a band
that manages to take their merger of traditional indigenous culture with melodic, catchy and angry punk rock they’re
known for over the last 18 or so years. It’s another important album from
one of America’s more unique (oddly
enough, somewhat obscure) underground rock bands. (BOONE)
(blackfire.net)
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