Eva Under Fire – Villainous
Eva Under Fire – Villainous
Better Noise Music
Release Date: 10/07/2026
Review by Beth Morait
9/10
Eva Under Fire is a band that I’ve always been “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of them,” but never really paid much attention to who they are or what they sound like. But, as fate would have it, I needed to write a review this week. My psyche needed a focus. I needed some new music to help pull me through the detritus of my recent existence. And I fancied something Modern Metal. Something that wasn’t going to take all my strength to pick apart nuance like my usual Prog musings do, but still, something that I could listen to and enjoy. And there was Eva Under Fire’s new album, “Villainous,” sitting in the EM inbox.
And fate indeed does work in mysterious ways, because the band uses their music to confront fears, anxieties, traumas, and losses, all of which are hugely pertinent to me right now. Frontwoman Amada Lyberg is, in fact, a qualified and practicing psychotherapist over the pond in Detroit. And she has known her own fair share of trauma and loss. Yet again the power of being able to explore difficult emotions through music is brought to the forefront.
So, what’s the album all about? Well, musically it’s punchy, solid, current Modern Metal, with all the hooks and danceable riffs you could want. The band has toured with bands like Ashes To New, Asking Alexandria, and Skillet, and they’ve performed with 30 Seconds to Mars. If you like any of those bands, you’ll like how Eva Under Fire sounds.
Thematically, Amanda has drawn on her experiences, both personally and as a therapist, to craft the lyrical content of this new album. It’s all about acknowledging feelings and owning truths. Each track is gritty, heartfelt, and performed superbly. You all know by now I’m a vocals kinda gal, and Amanda’s voice is superb. Great range, enough grunt to give it an edge, without detracting from the power of her crystal-clean tone. ‘Dark Soul’ is a great example of this – the vocals really soar above the chugging riffs provided by the rest of the band.
But that’s not to take away from what the rest of the band are doing musically! Everything is super-tight, with a kind of 90s industrial feel. The mix is crisp, and everything is well-positioned. Technically, everything is polished and performed with passion, and every song is full of movement and grit. There’s nothing I can criticise here. It doesn’t push any boundaries, but then it doesn’t need to. I will now definitely have Eva Under Fire on my playlist!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Awakening
02. My Own Name
03. Survive My Scars
04. Villainous (feat. Maria Brink of In This Moment)
05. The Words You Say
06. Don’t Say I’m Ok
07. Hello Hollow
08. Dark Soul
09. Gasoline
10. Murder Scene
11. Safe Word
12. Teeth
13. A Violent End
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/evaunderfireband
https://www.instagram.com/evaunderfire/
