Blazing hardcore

Boy Sets Fire burn brightly on After the Eulogy

By Phil McNamara

This Saturday, Worcester will be visited by two dozen bands who share a common interest in exploring every imaginable avenue on the road map of hardcore. This 12-hour assault

on the senses at the Palladium, dubbed the BoardFest, will feature emo-hardcore greats Boy Sets Fire, who show no signs of backing off their pummeling but melodic hard rock attack or vitriolic confrontational lyrics on their Victory Records debut, After the Eulogy. From the opening track chastising today's youth, "contented to strive for worthless slogans", to the finale which urges you to "rise up and destroy the disease that stole your soul.", BSF refuse to be content with the status quo. Instead of throwing out vague, "fuck yous" at random enemies, BSF is much more specific with their rage.

In "When Rhetoric Dies," the group laments the plight of American blue collar workers, whose jobs, homes, and way of life could disappear as corporations move their factories south of the border or overseas. "The Force Majeure" points out the empty promises of the workers' revolution, which have resulted in people working two or more jobs and overwhelming hours to survive.

BSF's 1995 self-released Consider EP and their Initial Records The Day the Sun Went Out LP showed glimpses of the band's talent for writing biting political and social satire, and playing heavy, fast, heart-pounding hardcore, which has gotten them out of their Newark, Delaware hometown to tour across the US as well as Europe. Their 1998 LP In Chrysalis showed BSF breaking new ground, mixing their hardcore punk with searing metallic guitar riffs in parts and melodic emo vocals in others. Their songwriting rose to new heights with songs like "Loser of the Year Award," the best song I've ever heard about being in a hardcore band. By the summer of 1999, BSF was getting rave reviews across the country and inquiries from major labels and large independents. The group decided that Victory Records would get their music heard by as many people as possible. The excitement of getting signed was marred by the departure of longtime bassist Darrel Hyde, who moved to Philadelphia to work for a computer company.

Though Hyde never specifically cited Victory as his reason for leaving, the event touched off months of debate among longtime fans over whether or not the band was selling out. "Some people feel threatened by Victory due to the fact that the majority of their bands play heavy, aggressive music, and most are successful," BSF's drummer Matt Krupanski explains. "I don't even like all the bands oxn Victory, but there's no reason to prejudge a label due to one or two bands that have bad reps."

With After the Eulogy, the band does more than just take on the establishment. In "Our Time Honored Tradition of Cannibalism," Gray warns against the counter culture being its own worst enemy over Slayer-like, metallic guitar blasts. Gray rails against homophobia and attacks religious bigotry in "Compassion," while the band churns out some crunchy old-school hardcore reminiscent of Worcester's Bane. Toward the end of the song, Gray repeats the righteous mantra, "You will burn in hell/For everyone you kill/For every drop of blood you ever spill."

"My Life in the Knife Trade" is a tale of betrayal by homophobic ex-friends, while "Across Five Years" is a very personal tale of self denial. Gray has been out of the closet for a few years, but the songs on After the Eulogy are the most candid the band has ever written. That could pose a risk to them in the hardcore scene and to their overall career, but Krupanski assures me, "We would worry about our careers if we couldn't back up what we do, but not because we're standing up for what we believe in."

After the Eulogy shows a band that has found its voice. There's no danger of the band streamlining its politics or sound to fit in on Victory Records. After the Eulogy came from a one record deal with Victory and the band chose not to renew their option. Though they are signed to Victory until October, BSF has signed an agreement with Wind Up Records. At the end of the summer the band will head into the studio to record their debut for Wind Up Records, home of up-and-comers like Finger 11 and rock light-heavyweights Creed. Wind Up Records is the independent label that gave Creed the promotion and tour support to sell records like they were a major label band. Whether Wind Up can work the same magic for BSF remains to be seen.

For now the band has nothing but rave reviews for Wind Up Records. "Across the board they're amazing," Krupanski says. "I hate dealing with labels, but Wind Up has been so good to us it's shocking."

The band isn't too crazy about MTV, but wouldn't be averse to making a video. It worked wonders for their soon-to-be labelmates Creed. Even if and when Boy Sets Fire do make it to MTV, the best way to see them will still be live on stage, as they will be Saturday at the Palladium.

Boy Sets Fire appear at the BoardFest on Saturday, January 13 at noon at the Palladium, 261 Main Street, Worcester. Tickets are $15. Call (508) 797-9696.