ON FIRE – Bite The Blade

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Jo Capitalicide is probably doing only one thing, and that is music. According to the Encyclopaedia Metallum, he is currently active in 18 bands, and used to be in 14 more. He is probably best known for his solo project Ice Age, although I preferred Aphrodite, a tribute to female-fronted 80s speed metal. When vocalist Tanza Speed decided to abandon metal in favour of gangsta rap / hip-hop, with a small detour in actually very charming synth pop, it was probably time to call it quits. But don’t worry, Jo is back with a new band doing their very best to conjure the spirit of mid-eighties Znöwhite, a vastly overlooked band that combined high speed metal with a snotty punk attitude.

This time, Jo is in charge of the bass guitar, with fellow Canadians Jeff Black doing amazing guitar work and Cara McCutchen showing off her powerful vocals. Alex Rossi from Italy is providing the drums. Jeff Black might be best known from epic heavy metal band Gatekeeper, while Cara McCutchen used to be the voice of thrash metal band Mortillery.

The eight songs on Bite The Blade are no-nonsense speed metal assaults that are surprisingly melodic and yet also have that aforementioned punk spirits that draws it so closely to Znöwhite’s early output All Hail To Thee and Kick 'em When They're Down. Cara McCutchen does without the sultry sexualisation that could be found in Tanza Speed’s performance, instead concentrating her energies on her loud and powerful vocal cords that remind more than once of Heart’s Wilson sisters. Jeff Black’s guitar work is nothing short of stellar, and the rhythm section completes the perfect impression with precise and high-speed pummelling. Add to this the impeccable songwriting that makes sure that each of these eight songs is a miniature classic in its own right. You’ll catch yourself singing along to these tracks in no time at all.

The production is just fine, taking the primeval energy of the early speed metal genre, without sounding shabby though. Apart from being on your typical streaming sites and a Bandcamp presence, you won’t find On Fire on social media sites. Maybe that’s something for the future, or a deliberate attempt at finding themselves close to the spirit of pre-internet days. Those of you who like their speed metal without unnecessary frills will be delighted by these eight very spontaneous sounding songs. Let’s hope that On Fire will not be a one-off for Jo Capitalicide aka Joe Steel, as On Fire truly are “on fire” and should have some more great tunes for their fans in the future.

8 songs

32:23 minutes

***** *****

Genre: speed metal

Label: Witches Brew

Released: 24th January 2025

Artist pages:
Bandcamp