Rap metal revivalists Fire from the Gods made waves last year with their full-length debut Narrative, and now they’re making even bigger waves with Narrative Retold. The Austin-based quintet’s new release is a reissue of their 2016 effort, with slightly-reworked compositions in addition to a couple of brand new cuts. With re-releases I’m never sure exactly what to expect; if they stand out as much as Narrative Retold did, though, I may have to pay closer attention to them from now on.

Narrative Retold is bookended by the two new tracks at the front and an acoustic version of last year’s hit single “Excuse Me” at the end. One thing I noticed about all three of these tunes is that they reminded me quite a bit of hard rock titans Sevendust, be it the heavy yet soulful voice of frontman AJ Channer on “The Voiceless,” the driving rocker that is “The Taste,” or the stripped-down rendition of “Excuse Me” that harkens back to Sevendust’s Time Travelers & Bonfires album. As if that wasn’t enough to get my attention, there’s even a reggae vibe that can be heard loud and clear on the album’s new closer.

Channer’s stellar vocals aren’t confined to the album’s extremities, however. Tunes such as the initial opener “Public Enemy” showcase his pipes on the powerhouse chorus, while the original closer “Into the Blue” keeps it simple, letting Channer belt in tandem with a prominent piano line throughout. Believe it or not, his singing encapsulates only one dimension of his vocal versatility, which also includes both rapping and screaming. On many tracks he does all three, but this is particularly prevalent on the overtly political cry “Excuse Me.”

Musically, Fire from the Gods tends to a post-hardcore sound with a nu-metal attitude. Fiery (and at times percussive) guitar effects shine through while a tight drum groove and consistent low-end hold it all together. The quintet isn’t afraid to experiment with other flavors as well, often using electronics to their advantage, particularly on “End Transmission” and at the end of “Pretenders,” the latter of which also boasts a turntable sound. Another great example of this venturing out comes on the train-like bridge of “Composition,” where the band blends a rapped bridge with piano and drums, and does so stunningly well, or the orchestral intro to its immediate successor, the lyrically deep foot-stomper, “Evolve.”

I could go on about Narrative Retold for another 400 words most likely, but I’ll save you the trouble by just giving you the bottom line now: effort number one (and a half?) is a stellar starting point for new listeners and an impressive step up for those already familiar with this 5-man wrecking crew. Even the non-standouts are worth giving a spin or two, making this deluxe edition a must-listen for anyone with a keen ear for either of the two styles prominent on the record, and positioning Fire from the Gods as one of its scene’s premier acts.

Score: 4.5/5

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