Ignite- Ignite
Ignite- Ignite
Century Media Records
Release Date: 25/03/22
Running Time: 31:00
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
I tell you what mates, it feels good to be back on home soil and talking about some Hardcore again, this time we’re talking about Orange County veterans Ignite and their new self- titled effort. Ignite have long stood out from the crowd with their ultra-melodic but no less intense approach to Hardcore, bolstered by the powerful, crystal clear tenor of original vocalist Zoltán Téglás, but now they find themselves seven albums in surrounded by bands that have liberally ‘borrowed’ from them and with a new singer in the form of Eli Santana. Do we need a new Ignite album in 2022? My answer is yes we need bands like Ignite more than ever.
At a brisk 31 minutes “Ignite” is brimming with aggression, passion and gigantic singalong hooks that tackle social injustice headfirst. Eli Santana immediately stamps his authority all over the album as ‘Anti Complicity Anthem’ comes screeching through the speakers, possessing a robust high register croon that effortlessly takes the baton from his predecessor.
After ‘The River’ brings some Gothic melancholy to the table and ‘This Day’ snaps your head back with furious pace and boisterous gang vocals, things really start cooking. ‘On the Ropes’ channels lurching bass and jangling chords into an eruption of kinetic Bad Religion harmonies that are catchy as they are intense while ‘The Butcher In Me’ is an outstanding songwriting showcase that has all the hallmarks of a hit single while never losing its menacing Hardcore edge. If you miss the old Rise Against sound then Ignite has got you covered here in a big way.
‘Call Off The Dogs’ provides the biggest hook of the album with the fist pumping chant of “Deny your programming” and a bouncing Nu-metal riff that really catches fire in the screamed breakdown section. From here on out it’s a straight dash to the finish line with every song hitting the mark until the brooding closer ‘Let the Beggars Beg’ seduces you with melancholic strumming that builds into hulking AFI style riffs that masterfully build into yet another huge chorus.
While I can’t honestly say that Ignite are doing anything new here, it has been a long time since they sounded this vicious, focused and full of spite and even longer since they’ve produced something this consistent. There are no dips in quality or momentum over these 10 tracks and enough variety to avoid fatigue setting in. This is music that deals with ugly reality and isn’t afraid to slug you in the face with it, but it sweetens the deal with an abundance of melody.
With AFI going full goth a long time ago, Bad Religion mellowing with age and Rise Against going the stadium route you could do a lot worse than turning to Ignite for scabrous punk with a hint of California sunshine. This one’s getting bumped loud and proud in my garden this summer!
‘The Butcher In Me’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Anti-Complicity Anthem
02. The River
03. This Day
04. On The Ropes
05. The Butcher In Me
06. Call Off the Dogs
07. The House is Burning
08. Enemy
09. State of Wisconsin
10. Let The Beggars Beg
LINE-UP:
Kevin Kilkenny– guitar
Nik Hill– guitar
Brett Rasmussen– bass
Craig Anderson– drums
Eli Santana– vocals
LINKS:
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