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Boy Sets Fire

Before the Eulogy
2005
Equal Vision

Boy Sets Fire - Before the Eulogy (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Anchors
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Published on January 17th 2006

I’ll be the first to admit that Boy Sets Fire’s lone release with Wind-Up Records was, to put it mildly, a letdown. Tommorow Come Today had really lost the fire that the politically-minded fivesome had been most noted for. It wasn’t awful, but I just couldn’t feel the passion in it, which had never been an issue while listening to a BSF album before that. This is a lot of the reason I was so excited to get a copy of Before the Eulogy. Combining demos, rarities, and some old reissues, these 20 songs show the Boy Sets Fire of old.

The album is comprised of the band's first two demos, two EPs, the Consider 7”, and some rarities, going in chronological order of release, allowing for anyone who listens to really chronicle the progressions the band has made musically since the release of that first demo ten years ago.

Obviously, a lot of the demo tracks are going to be a bit more rough around the edges, but they also provide some of the most loud, angry, passionate material the band has ever recorded. Nathan Gray’s screams sound positively hellacious, as “One Subject Notebook” makes perfectly obvious. This was a much more angry, much more volatile Boy Sets Fire than is currently around; everything, from the heavy chord progressions, pounding drum fills and thick bass work, it all screams conviction. The rest of the songs from this first demo continue in that similar vein, save for “Harlot,” which integrates some of the singing parts that would later become a staple, only in a much poorer sounding manner.

The tracks that opt for the much more straightforward, aggressive hardcore sound are where Boy Sets Fire truly shines. “The Burning Of” is a raging, fervent example of the power the band is able to display when they throw all their qualms to the wind. When there’s no sung vocals to be worked into the structure, Gray is able to let go and explode into a veritable supernova, with his vocals really showing their grit. Two of the best tracks are straight off the band's lone 7’’, and they’re able to truly show what they can do. The dueling guitarists both rage through the song's duration, flying on Nathan Gray’s wings while the drums and bass anchor it all. When the guitars break for a quick interlude to let Gray catch his breath, they come back into the fold twice as powerful as before. Those buzzsaw riffs tear through anything in their path, and the screams are literally seething with vehement ire. The Chrysalis and Suckerpunch Training EPs are both packing plenty of punch, but a few of these songs integrate some singing that bog down the intensity to a dull roar. “The Tyranny of What Everyone Knows”' maniacal vocals and thunderous drum fills don’t leave room to complain, but the following “Loser of the Year Award" drops the intensity for some misplaced melody. It’s clear everyone has toned it down a bit, and it hurts the overall flow.

The last few tracks don’t quite match the intensity of the first two demos, but there’s still sporadic bits and pieces of greatness. Boy Sets Fire has come a real long way, and after the last album it seems they’re headed in the wrong direction. With a new album forthcoming early in the next year, I’m excited too see what’s around the corner, but before anyone hears that album, I think it’s plenty important to check out the past.

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 3:20 PM (EST)

Kind of dissapointed this didn't include the "This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice Is Being Born" EP they did on Magic Bullet. That was awesome.

Posted by skaboom on 2006-01-19 22:32:11

"second most overrated band next to against me, overall worst band ever"

You are bad at listening to music. This is a proven fact.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 3:29 PM (EST)

second most overrated band next to against me, overall worst band ever

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 12:52 AM (EST)

Just because the quote I used was screamed, doesn't mean I feel the strength of those words was in the screaming. I thought Boy Sets Fire was better than most of the bands they were lumped into "screamo" with in the past. No I haven't heard the whole album yet, and maybe I just haven't heard enough so far, but after the first couple songs I was not under the impression that it was as good as previous efforts. It was not that I didn't bother listening, but that I didn't have the rest of the album yet. And since I listened to them for years I am well aware they never recorded "13 straight up hardcore tracks", one of my favorite songs by Boy Sets Fire is When Rhetoric Dies, which isn't exactly a "hard" or "throaty scream" song. This is not an angry response to start an argument, I'm just responding to what was said about my comment, I won't shut up because somebody thinks I'm another 13 year old screamo fan or something.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 11:41 PM (EST)
My Score:

Great comp. And, just for the record, Loser of the Year Award is my favorite song on here, and one of my favorite BSF songs of all-time.

-Chinatown

Posted by colin on 2006-01-18 16:30:36

I listened to the first couple songs off the new album and so far I'm wondering where the band that asked "where's your anger, where's your fuckin rage" went. I think if anybody interviews them about the new album, they should quote that against them.

did you bother listening to the third?

and i agree with the dude below me. none of bsf's records have been all screaming.

and if you think that a throaty scream is what 'rage' is, then that's too bad. words are usually a pretty good indicator of how pissed off someone is at a situation and the entire album is a massive protest. think outside the screams.

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-18 10:01:38

uhh yeah it appears to me that on the new album, the rage pretty much came back

was bsf ever a band ot put 13 straight up hardcore tracks on an album?

the answer of course is NO so shut up

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 3:13 AM (EST)

Posted by discofucker on 2006-01-17 23:40:23

"its really not an issue about this band naming an album "before the eulogy" cause didnt they already release an "after"?

so its not like a "ooohhhh they dont know their history" its a "lets keep the same theme""

Wow. Just wow.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 11:35 PM (EST)

"2. Complaining about the name of the album because it was an Assuck album is so fucking lame. Especially when you try to show of your "knowledge" by naming some of their album titles."

I dunno, whenever bands name their albums after other bands have done it years ago, its not only unoriginal but kind of shows their lack of knowledge as bands. Obviously, no band who ever claimed to be hardcore would name their record after such a legendary release as a fucking assuck LP. Those guys were/are totally respected and mighty in the scene. Same with pop-punk bands naming their shit after poison Idea stuff. You either don't know your fucking history or are shitting in the mouth of said history by naming your wack project after someone who has created something great years before you.

Posted by primeevil7 on 2006-01-17 23:22:47

Will calling something overproduced trash?

Color me shocked.

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-01-17 21:30:44

Other bands have released b-sides compilations before. What a rip-off!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 6:41 PM (EST)

You people arguing over the Misery Index thing should all remember that the term is hardly original to the grind band either. They can come to the same name independently you know.

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2006-01-17 17:21:04

Guy below:

You have missed the plot entirely.

You have blown my mind.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 5:19 PM (EST)

its really not an issue about this band naming an album "before the eulogy" cause didnt they already release an "after"?

so its not like a "ooohhhh they dont know their history" its a "lets keep the same theme"

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-17 16:43:44

wait for the review, homes!

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2006-01-17 16:40:39

Come on man, it really isn't that good. I'm not gonna slam you for liking it, but really, what the fuck is so good about it?

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-17 16:39:09

crooky for the love of god you are out of your mind

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2006-01-17 16:17:11

1. I don't like Assuck.

2. Complaining about the name of the album because it was an Assuck album is so fucking lame. Especially when you try to show of your "knowledge" by naming some of their album titles.

3. The new album by these guys is horrible. I'm up to track two and this guys voice is horribly grating and whiney. Will is dead on about it over produced as well.

Conclusion - Assuck weren't good, but somehow managed to be better than the the pile of shit these guys are just about to bring out.

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-17 15:53:22

will

you're annoying

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 3:32 PM (EST)

"ken, you are like the only person still whining about how boy sets fire "STOLE" an album title from a shitty half rate grind band

build a bridge and get over it, man"

Hey "danperrone," if you knew anything about hard music in general, you'd realize that Assuck (pronounced Assook, not Ass suck) were undeniably one of the greatest of all times.

Boy Sets Fire... This is more overproduced trash. Decide what you want to be: a pop band or a hardcore band. "Progression" (meaning huge production and annoying guitar parts) usually sucks the big one, so does this band.

-Will

Posted by k-dubs on 2006-01-17 14:29:48

i love this band and this album. i can't wait to hear misery index, thoguh the rumour mill says it leaked already? anyone heard it?

p.s.: theres a hidden track, boysetsfire covers a years spent cold song. check it out, its called "whiny baby monsters, xxx"

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 2:07 PM (EST)

all you need:
"cavity" from in 'chrysalis'

soooooo good

Posted by justatango on 2006-01-17 13:45:54
My Score:

this album is amazing, i love old bsf. another good "old-songs" cd is mastodon's call of mastodon. listening to it now. two top notch bands.

and btw, the bsf cd kills. listened to it last night. shows why they're the best band in their genre(s)

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 1:38 PM (EST)

Damn I want the new album and I want to see them live again.

Posted by Scruffy on 2006-01-17 13:00:08

Listen to Deja Coup and/or the last track on The Misery Index and try and find anything other than an antireligious message.

After hearing the leaked version of The Misery index, I gotta say, the biggest mistake on there is the reworking of that part of a song from After The Eulogy. It just illustrates how much better that album is.
The new one is still good.

Posted by discofucker on 2006-01-17 12:47:20

Jesus rock they are not.

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-17 11:46:20

how is this jesus rock!!!

i will fight to the death for this band

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 11:28 AM (EST)

jesus rock! hahahaha. next please!

Posted by aubin on 2006-01-17 10:42:19

ken, you are like the only person still whining about how boy sets fire "STOLE" an album title from a shitty half rate grind band

Plus, "misery index" is actually a real thing; it's a measure used in economics. It's pretty likely that both the band and BSF came up with the idea to use it independently.

Posted by sirens on 2006-01-17 10:12:48

Misery Index = going to own.

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-17 09:37:22

ken, you are like the only person still whining about how boy sets fire "STOLE" an album title from a shitty half rate grind band

build a bridge and get over it, man

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 9:29 AM (EST)

I can't wait for "Misery Index". It'll be the best thing they've done since the "Anti-Capital" LP or even the "Blindspot" EP. Truly a legendary Florida band.

-Ken

Posted by danperrone on 2006-01-17 09:23:10

the new album is going to shoot this band to the upper echelon of awesome music once again

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 8:52 AM (EST)
My Score:

This is good stuff...I have all the tracks on here on their original format, but I'll probably end up buying this for the simple fact that it's convenient and it will play in my car.

---Trav.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 8:47 AM (EST)

"This is a lot of the reason I was so exited to get a copy of Before the Eulogy. Combining demos, rarities, and some old reissues, these 20 songs show the Boy Sets Fire of old. "

I believe you are trying to say you were EXCITED for the disc and not that you were somehow trying to past tense leave some place.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 3:39 AM (EST)

i always kind of liked loser of the year award, but one mans gold is anothers misplaced melody.

wyzo

Posted by colin on 2006-01-17 02:36:41

i always liked after the eulogy
but wait for the new record

it's going to be on the upper tier of a few "best of 2006" lists methinks.

Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-01-17 02:29:24

boy sets fire is one of those bands that everyone i know (and everyone at the org) seems to love but i've always found kind of boring.

granted, i haven't hear too much. any suggestions on where to start?...albums, not songs.

Posted by discofucker on 2006-01-17 02:17:44

One of my all time favorite bands. The only reason I don't have this is I already have everything except the 2 demos, and am wicked poor. Misery Index is going to be incredible, if the new song is any sign.

Posted by KirbyPuckett on 2006-01-17 01:33:03
My Score:

My score is for the future of this band. You'll see.

- Kirby

Posted by maverick on 2006-01-17 00:56:02

For the record, the band's cover of "Rocket Man," although on this CD's tracklisting, is not on the first pressing -- somehow it got switched for "Timothy," the bonus track from the Wind-Up reissue of After The Eulogy. The band said subsequent pressings will correct the mistake.

-Scott

Posted by colin on 2006-01-17 00:46:35

i really dig the holiday in cambodia cover, and all around this is a solid disc

the new one is gonna blow the roof off though

Posted by Godfather on 2006-01-17 00:26:41
My Score:

i still don't have this album, but i'm sure it's good....score is for the band

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