Bridging the gap between hardcore metal fury and hip-hop consciousness, Austin, Texas quintet Fire from the Gods formed in 2010 with an original lineup that included guitarist Drew Walker and bassist Bonner Baker, as well as vocalist Eric July, guitarist Tony Esparza, and drummer Judson Curtis. They released their metalcore debut, Sleeping with Anchors & Mirrors, followed by the Sweet Lasting Revenge EP, before July, Esparza, and Curtis parted ways with the band. A re-formed lineup -- connected through the Headbang Program -- emerged in 2015, fronted by powerful frontman AJ Channer and rounded out by guitarist Jameson Teat and drummer Richard Wicander. Channer -- born in the Bronx and raised in London and Ghana -- injected the group with new focus and vitality, merging the band's aggressive style with thoughtful, often uplifting and socially conscious lyrics. Their sound took the intensity of Sevendust and Slipknot, and layered it with heavy grooves found at the cores of P.O.D., Rage Against the Machine, and Skindred. They signed with Rise Records for the release of their 2016 LP, Narrative, which was produced by David Bendeth (Paramore, Of Mice & Men, Breaking Benjamin). Written from the point of view of a minority man living in urban America, Narrative put American society under a microscope, tackling topics like racism and abuse of power and balancing those with empowering underdog anthems. The following year the band issued Narrative Retold, a re-release of their 2016 album Narrative with the addition of two new songs guest produced by Korn's Jonathan Davis.
