Single review: In Case Of Fire - This Time We Stand

In Case Of Fire don’t mess about at all: “This Time We Stand” opens with a punishing rhythm section and scorches into a big rock anthem that needs only a mighty chorus to put it in for major contention. After the trudging death grip of the slew of recent punk bands it’s a delight to find something that has fire, passion and hints of genuine greatness. The main problem “This Time We Stand” possesses is that it surges along powerfully without really going anywhere. The hook is underdone, too, which is probably the fault of the awkward lyrics.

In Case Of Fire look to the past for their future: their début album, and this single, are produced by world-renowned knob-twiddler Gil Norton (who did the histrionic Echo and the Bunnymen albums, all the seminal Pixies albums and recent Foo Fighters material) but it is the presence of mixer Chris Sheldon that is so conspicuous. His sound is unmistakeable, and “This Time We Stand” has it in spades, sounding like a logical progression from Therapy?’s masterful Troublegum album and Feeder’s early Swim EP, both of which Sheldon produced beautifully.

“This Time We Stand” has the sharp drum sound, the full-frontal bass, the scorching guitars and the nicely doused vocals that usually trumpet a Chris Sheldon production. As it is, his work at the mixing desk has created a heavy indie-rock juggernaut that promises much for In Case Of Fire’s forthcoming album.

I’ll have some of that.

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