Review: Fire For Glory – Phantoms, Ghosts and Monsters EP
Bands like Auckland five-piece Fire For Glory serve as a constant reminder that sweet pop punk tunes can be found in our own backyard.
You aren’t going to get the production quality of the Neck Deep’s and Fall Out Boy’s of the world – but let’s be honest, would you expect to?
After reforming in 2014, Fire For Glory have finally unveiled their EP Phantoms, Ghosts and Monsters.
Five tracks strong, the offering is filled with infectious hooks and catchy melodies right throughout.
The band’s Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco influences are prominent in the majority of the EP, especially when the piano kicks in during the second verse of the title track. So, if you like those two bands, then I can’t imagine why this wouldn’t appeal to you.
For the first time in God knows how long, I struggled to pick a favourite song– no track on the EP is similar to the last, and I ended up with a three-way tie. Here’s why I liked each track:
Track 1 – This One’s For You – This A Day To Remember-esque opener sets the bar quite high for those that follow. When a song begins with some gang vocals, I expect good things (some might say I’m a sucker for gang vocals… they’d be right.) To be honest I was surprised by this song because it’s a bit heavier than I expected. The instrumentation in the opener will have you bobbing along.
Track 2 – Smile – I absolutely love the hook in this song. It’s a song that I could see myself thrashing throughout the summer – it’s full of good vibes and it’s a fun song to listen to.
Track 3 – Hey Look, An Iceberg! (feat. Brendan Pyper) – This was the single the band released from the EP, so it will give you the best idea of what to expect from the rest of the tunes. For me, this tune has the best lyrics and piano is used here and there to complement the guitars nicely.
Not to take anything away from what is otherwise a solid EP, Track 4 - The Escape (feat. Indigo Harding) failed to grab my attention. The intro starts strong, with a high tempo guitar riff setting the tone, however there’s not a lot of variation throughout the song so about halfway through I was ready for the next one.
Much like the strong opening tune, the EP closer comes in the form of the title track and it gives the finale feel an end track should.
It’s a decent effort from the Auckland quintet and is well worth a listen if you’re a fan of pop punk. It’s not going to become your all-time favourite EP, but it’ll sit well in your summer playlist.
Hard copies of the EP are available through the band’s Facebook page
