If first impressions are anything to go by, Chasing Dragons’ debut album Take Flight for a Firefight is not something for your grandmother’s Christmas present. Offering a less than original take on the age old black nail polish, grubby black hoodie and blackened souls straight from the bowels of hell, the Leeds based rockers are every bit as anathemic and parentally frowned upon as could be.
That said, their debut album offers something of an enigma. Bathed in the usual nuances associated with hard rock and heavy metal, opening track colorfully titled ‘Spawn of the Succubus’, there appears to be something much deeper and fruitful about this Leeds quintet.
The hook-heavy ‘Seeds of Tomorrow’ display chasing Dragons’ ability to cut lyrics with the best of their contemporaries. Where valiant evil wizards, dark, soul sucking love affairs worthy of a Twilight novel are concerned, the band pull it off with a roguish charm and unfathomable likeability.
In a move reminiscent of the great 90s MTV experiment, Unplugged. Live versions of their demo ‘Into the Pit’ and ‘Spawn of the Succubus’ appear on the album.
These offers the listener a chance to get the feel of what is obviously Chasing Dragons’ highlight. Like so many other groups in their genre, heavy metal, rock and thrash are in their element on the live stage. The sweaty atmosphere of a dingy rock club can and often do, offer a much needed stage for up and coming bands plying their trade in an era that has not been kind to them.
These live, acoustic versions of previously recorded songs only bolster the groups’ musical ability. All too often bands like this are dismissed as overly distorted, bleak viewed one trick pony. Adding live and acoustic tracks adds to their integrity as well as providing a well-earned forum.
Including a wonderfully original and distinctly toned back cover of Alannah Myles’ raunchy ‘Black Velvet’. Complete with fret board burning shredding and a scale sore outro to hang with the best, Chasing Dragons offer the briefest insight into their own heritage with what will no doubt prove to be a live hit.
Certain subtleties point to the relative greenery of the album and band as a whole. The title feels a little misguided, with no direct inference to any of the album’s overall story arcs or group themselves. “Take Flight for a Firefight” feels more suited to the well supervised, ankle biting, radio friendly antics of McFly or Busted than a tattooed army of the night. A fact reinforced by the album’s production by Carl Brown, the man behind Fightstar.
Have they missed the boat? No. Will they usher in a new golden, or black, age of head banging popularity not seen since Fred Durst’s hijacking of the charts? No. What Chasing Dragons will achieve is a sturdy fan base, success and recognition for the obvious talents they possess. The dedication shown to their music cannot be questioned and, of course, should be applauded.
As debuts go, this is no Appetite for Destruction. It does, however, serve as a landmark for a band who are willing to commit themselves to their art. With every release of this kind, recording session and, of course, live gig, Chasing Dragons will continue to grow stronger. The end result something that will be worthy of their sacrifice.