Website: Light Yourself on Fire
The lines between death metal and hardcore have become increasingly blurred in the United States, and Light Yourself on Fire is a prime example of this phenomenon. However, most of the crossover American metal bands tend to keep the breakdowns and the solos featured in both genres; LYoF takes the exact opposite direction. Featuring syncopated rhythms, constant chugging, and a strong left political view, Light Yourself on Fire has at least added a twist to the norm.
But when it’s all put together in one package, the limitations of this direction become strikingly clear. Working from a base of one tuned-down open chord with a harmonic tossed in for good measure, there’s not much a complex rhythmic pattern can add aside from a different kind of repetition. “Are You Talking? Is it Really Necessary?” adds a bit more to the mix and stands out as the only track that… well, stands out. As for the lyrics, there’s a bundle of poetic work struggling for form; great ideas, but without any sort of structure, it reads like an angry revolutionary with a large vocabulary, ranting and raving without making a point.
Light Yourself on Fire is a great concept, but the band can’t seem to make a statement either lyrically or musically. Potential is a wonderful thing to have; unfortunately, it hasn’t gone anywhere with this album.
