Album Review: Marshfire – Harbinger (Self Released)

Marshfire is a solo (mostly) instrumental modern metalcore artist due to release their debut full-length album ‘Harbinger’ on April 21st, 2023.

There are two notable things about Marshfire’s Harbinger once you’ve started to explore its sound. The first being the fact that it is a (mostly) instrumental modern metalcore release with massive amounts of atmosphere and eccentric use of synth. Not often a genre that sees a lot of solo work. The second is the length. This is not a short release, coming in at over 70 minutes. Again, not something you normally see from a solo project.

Which does mean Marshfire has to do a lot to keep listeners engaged, especially when you’re drawing from different areas of the musical world.

Happily, that is pretty much what they are able to do as Harbinger showcases a blend of thrilling synthy electronica, heavy riff work, and dramatic atmospheres that delivers a wide array of emotions. Imaginative throughout, even if some of the elements don’t gel with your personal tastes, how everything weaves together is undeniably striking.

Especially as the album, as a whole, is more than just the sum of its parts. There’s a ton of technical proficiency, progressive creativity, expansive, and diverse concepts. It’s exciting to hear what comes next and that there is one of the most successful things about this album.

Don’t be put off by the heavy use of synth or burgeoning atmosphere, this is still very much a metal record, and the vigorous guitar/drum energy makes that perfectly clear. Of course, some tracks are meatier and meaner than others, but the overall dichotomy is pretty damn special. Credit where credit is due, Mashfire has done an exceptional job here of capturing the imagination and holding the attention for over 70-minutes. All on their own. Fantastic stuff.

Marshfire – Harbinger Track Listing:

1. Lost in the Hurricane
2. Nothing Compares
3. Assumed Absolution
4. All the Things We Die For
5. A Century is All We Need
6. Self-Destructive
7. The Darkness Inside My Mind
8. We Are the Outcasts
9. Harbinger
10. The Thin Line Between
11. Death-Defying

Links

Spotify | Facebook