Spitfire "Cult Fiction"

The craze surrounding chaotic, dissonant metalcore has largely fizzled in the wake of the surging popularity of "deathcore." Instead of looking to Every Time I Die and Botch for influence, upstart metalcore bands are more likely to aspire to be the next Job for a Cowboy or Despised Icon. No surprise there; music goes through phases. That said, I was surprised to hear that Spitfire is still pumping some life into a genre that just doesn't have the buzz it did a few years ago. Surprised, yes; but not disappointed.

Cult Fiction, the band's second full length since reforming in 2004, draws on Botch's oddly timed riffs and rhythms, Every Time I Die's energy and sass, and Scarlet's penchant for smoothing out otherwise jarring noise (the latter makes sense considering Spitfire features two former members of Scarlet). Never content with straightforward time signatures or consistent tempos, Spitfire's rhythm section sets the stage for a familiar blend of lumbering, chunky riffs, angular arrangements of notes and scathing dissonance. The band focuses on strong, heavy, mid-paced tempos and guitar parts, but they occasionally throw things into high-gear ("The Animal Kingdom of Heaven's Gate," "Pro-Life," "Meth Monster") and even more often experiment with droning, sludgy riffs, somber atmospheres and rhythmic drumming. The slower stuff is certainly a welcome addition, as it still fits the record's flow and offers listeners a textured, more contemporary respite from the chaos.

Cult Fiction is as listenable as it is chaotic, and a flavorful taste of what was, for a while, a defining sound in metalcore.

Not the most representative song, but oh so crushing: Spitfire - Chemo The Rapist

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