Anyone can write a call to action song, but actually meaning it, believing it —that can’t be faked. Fire From The Gods encapsulates the true power and reverberation of authenticity. Their message is real, they are real, and that has never waivered throughout their discography. While their debut album Narrative left an impactful first impression, their sophomore album American Sun lost the traction it deserved when COVID cut it’s tour cycle short; Making their new album, Soul Revolution (Better Noise) have all the more weight added onto its release. 

Spoiler alert: it delivered. 

Frontman AJ Channer has lived a long life spread across Ghana, London, and New York. He writes and sings from a perspective we seldomly get from metal vocalists and that’s exactly what makes the band’s music so valuable. Channing not only utilizes his rich personal experiences, but also has an amazing ability to view humanity far outside his own microcosm. His writing is digestible and relatable to anyone, in spite of creed. That strength in itself encapsulates FFTG’s campaign for unity. 

While much of their heart and soul is found in their messaging, they don’t sacrifice the quality of their sound in return. They’re not afraid to try new things, revive old things, and add new flavors never tasted in metal before. From the intro of “Be Free” to the entirety of “I N I” and “Soul Revolution”, they hit such a unique beat with bite. It demands your attention. As their first love song, the sounds and themes of “Love Is Dangerous” are perhaps the newest to the band, yet it stays true to their identity and captures a beautifully nostalgic sound. 

They aren’t ones to forget their metal roots either. The chugs on “8 Million Rats”, the venom on “Collapse”, the drops on “SOS”— Iconic and classic. However, the most breathtaking tracks on Soul Revolution are undeniably “The Message” and “Rapture”. Both songs see the heaviest doses of African influence from Channing’s background, mixed with the earwormiest of hooks and revolutionary vigor. Everything from Channing leaning into his accent, to the inclusion of traditional music, imagery, and a quote from Marcus Garvey, is beyond perfect. 

Fire From The Gods proves how desperately metal needs new voices. They lead with lessons of inner strength and fuel for self-empowerment, carving the way for change in both their genre and our society. 

Buy the album here: https://www.firefromthegods.com/

9 / 10

LJ De WITT