It has been a long time since a true Melodic Death Metal piece crossed our hawse. The RMR crew discovered a bunch of ‘-ish’ guys but nothing as strongly forged as any Insomnium piece would be.
But what about some refreshing new sound that should dig this (tired old) genre out of its hole and let it soar again? They do exist, you know. The US act Fires in the Distance appears to be one of them. They kinda flew by our review pipe in 2023 when their piece Air Not Meant For US was released. But for some reason, there wasn’t enough traction three years ago. So back it went into the sump to dwell with all those other records for eternity.
Now, the poetically named Circadian Promise piqued our interest. And it is not because they just follow the leader to fill the greedy little mouths of the Melodeath fanbase with more mana, but because Fires in the Distance genuinely tries to be different. To go the other way, removed from those old tropes into a fresher, more inclusive style.
The typical hard yet majestically melodic riffing and pretty neat solos, combined with the growl/clear voice combos, find their place on Circadian Promise, too. No contest there. The subdued melodies and bridges might sound familiar, too. But FitD hit the refinement button a few times more1, and the outcome is one of the most elaborate productions of this genre ever to appear on this zine. Also, the RMR crew found less of the archetypal heavy and somber moods, and more of an astonishingly refreshing, slightly progressive trait.
This comes with key work of some heft that often weirdly veers into arpeggio-ish dreamland (Of Radiance and Levitation, Once the Silence Takes Your Place). Perfect for stage work when you can create these moments of pure magic before the thunderous blast beats recommence. And speaking about the master of sticks, this is some excellent, full-throated foundation that Jordan Rippe2 relentlessly throws at the audience. Thunderous warnings that will remind the listener that we’re not in woozy land but are facing real metal here.
And this brings me to their brand-new vocalist, John Hayther. He flickered about our line of sight a few times in the past, but always disappeared again like some ethereal apparition. And if the name sounds familiar, it may be because of his involvement with the Canadian band Thrawsunblat3. A band that brought its influences to this piece as well. His somewhat weird croaks, growls, and halting, rough-hewn clears should actually never work, but for some reason they do. And, to our surprise, fittingly so.
So, what are the highlights here? First and foremost, I invite you to listen to Circadian Promise in one sitting. Hack it apart, and the record will stop making sense to you. Unsurprisingly, Of Radiance and Levitation will already serve as a beacon where this is headed. I mean, this first track could already serve as a mini-album by itself. But fear naught, the record continues in the same vein, with the last two tracks standing out distinctly. Once the Silence Takes Your Place with its dreamy, clear voice part and – for sure – Agonal Dreaming. The RMR crew truly appreciated the tremolo-laden melodies, multilayered with tastily inserted keys. One of the strongest tracks on this album.
Ultimately, Circadian Promise gave the well-used Melodic Death Metal genre a new spin. In fact, Fires in the Distance took this beyond the call of duty into a land where metal magic is brought about by sometimes dream-laden keys as well as the good ol’ axe work. The RMR crew particularly appreciated the ebb and flow from harsh metal into elaborate, melodically-tainted soundscapes. The record is passionate, fiery yet silky-smooth at times, airy yet full of tempered steel, loaded with melancholy and soaring joy. Now we agree, that’s a lot of seeming contradictions that turned – astonishingly – into an artful amalgamation of moods and flavors. It is an exceedingly difficult feat to find equilibrium and poise in such complex sonic environments. And it wasn’t something the RMR crew really expected to find. But we gladly stand corrected.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: Prosthetic Records | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 12 June 2026