Boysetsfire – Boysetsfire

BoySetsFire are a legendary post hardcore band from Delaware who have now been with us for over two decades, this self titled album is their sixth release and possibly the most controversial for many of their devotees. To say this this album marks a departure from their usual style would be an exaggeration, but it’s at least taken an interesting detour.

The hardcore and post hardcore influences are still there on many of the tracks and they’re as in your face as they ever were, but there are additional elements thrown into this album. There are songs that veer into the kind of melodic hardcore territory that the likes of Bad Religion have made their own, in particular on what for me is this release’s stand out track, Heaven Knows. They even briefly flirt with rock on Ordinary Lives before taking a walk of shame back to the welcoming embrace of straight up punk rock and hardcore. This album seems to have divided opinion amongst many of their following but for me the change is a welcome one. Boysetsfire are evolving but the changes do not mean they have lost their desire for change, and this release feels like they have kept the flames of righteous anger burning.

For me Boysetsfire have a taken a step forward with this album, I like to hear a band experimenting with new styles and taking a step out of their comfort zone. As long as the character of the band remains intact then this can only help to ensure that they remain relevant, Boysetsfire have certainly achieved that with this impressive self titled release. This is an album that, whilst not perfect, can go toe to toe with pretty much anything else they’ve released, and after over two decades that is a hell of an achievement.