Phinehas

Phinehas – The Fire Itself (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 41:42 minutes | 519 MB | Genre: Metal
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Solid State Records

Metalcore has had its share of fads over the years. From the emo singing choruses of the 2000s to the synth-infused electronicore of the 2010s, bands seem to be constantly searching for something new to fuse with the over-saturated genre. Los Angeles natives Phinehas have a different calling card: nonstop ferocious musicianship. While it’s not the most unique approach to metalcore, this tactic has given the band a very consistent discography with plenty of variation kept between albums. The Fire Itself, while lacking the cohesion enjoyed by 2017’s Dark Flag, leverages its sheer brutality to become one of the band’s best albums to date.
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Phinehas – Dark Flag (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 43:58 minutes | 517 MB | Genre: Metalcore
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Solid State Records

Phinehas’ new concept record, Dark Flag, contemplates the horrendous assaults on human rights that reportedly occur in North Korea under the Kim regime. While the band do not take a political stance, the record focuses on the pain of human liberties being stripped away and the frustration that no one is taking responsibility. As a result, Dark Flag contains some of the most heartfelt and moving lyrics of the band’s career. “Meaningless Names,” one of the slow, melodic songs on the record, haunts with lines like “Counting days with each cell door creak” and “The deafening hush of waiting to die.” At the same time, the song also offers inspirational sentiments (“Hold fast to hope of another day,” “I have to believe something better awaits”).
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