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The Holy Fire

In the Name of the World

(The Militia Group; US: 21 Feb 2006; UK: 27 Feb 2006)

The thumping opener “Raised on Planes” prepares the way for the coming of a great six-track mini album. You hold on to you seat for a white-knuckle ride of turbulence with pop sensibilities and one eye on the stadium prize. The five tracks that follow don’t quite live up to this promise. With the exception of “We’re Not Here to Learn”, what follows is an exploration of the territory first explored and colonized by the Manic Street Preachers. The aforementioned tune is classic Boy-period U2, who at that time were young upstarts with pop sensibilities and one eye on the stadium prize. Overall, a pretty good effort that opens really well and ends with a song that spits fire and venom from the speakers. “Hate Your Smile” does leave you wanting more, simply because of the sonic guitar riff and bile-filled chorus. Keep an eye on these guys; a full-length album may be in the cards, and if they graft more of their own sound onto these beginnings, it’ll be a stormer.

Rating:

Marc A. Price was born in Peterborough, a tiny little backwater in the east of England and is a graduate of American Studies (BA, University of Sussex & University of Texas in Austin) and Contemporary History (MA, University of Sussex). He resisted the urge to get a third degree and moved to the Netherlands where he works for a well known STM publisher. He takes photos a good bit these days and struggles with his Internet addiction on a daily basis. He has been writing for PopMatters on and off since 2006. Marc A. Price would like to point out that he is not "Skippy" from Family Ties.


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