When it comes to heavy music, Germany is currently a hotbed of activity. With a crop of exciting young bands that cover the entire spectrum of heaviness, we are currently spoiled for choice and it’s hard to know exactly where the newcomer should jump in. Thankfully we have record labels like Long Branch to guide us, and the latest in a long line of stellar releases comes from post-hardcore/metalcore combo Rising Insane. Formed in 2012, in the Oldenburg region of Lower Saxony, this quintet are about to unleash their fourth album, the aptly-titled Wildfires, a record that’s sure to set the globe ablaze.

Since releasing their debut album Nation in 2017 Rising Insane have been very active in their Germany, playing shows and festivals whilst touring with big names such as Deez Nuts and Annisokay. However, wider recognition beyond their native shores has been strangely absent, yet that seems set to change with Wildfires in their arsenal. Featuring eleven explosive cuts, the band come out swinging with opening salvo ‘Reign’, and things get raucous from here on. Hard as nails, but melodic as hell, it perfectly encapsulates the band’s modus operandi; it’s a push and pull between the heavy and the lithe, the light and shade, which makes the record such an intriguing listen and one that holds the attention over the course of forty fluctuating minutes.

The style of music the band plays affords them a lot of freedom and means that when they include electronic beats, such as on ‘Monster’, they don’t seem out of place at all, in fact they only add to the band’s palette. While many metalcore bands deal in dark, monochrome shades, Rising Insane paint with vibrant splashes of colour and it gives them a dimension that many of their peers lack. Yet, fans of the heavy stuff won’t be disappointed and there’s plenty of speaker-melting moments on display, most notably the crushing ‘Carousel’ but mostly Wildfires sets course right in the middle which makes the album both heavy and heart wrenching, something of a rarity in the genre.

Wildfires provides the sparks that light the flame…so watch this space.

• Wildfires is released via Long Branch Records on 23rd August 2024.
• Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Channel

Track List:

1. Reign
2. Monster
3. Lighthouse
4. Malicious
5. Bet On Me
6. Warning
7. Counting Regrets (Interlude)
8. Carousel
9. Burn
10. The Door
11. Wildfires