50SHR #11: Open Fire (Hawaii)

 
50 STATES OF HARD ROCK #11: HAWAII

 

Band: Open Fire
Release: No Uncle of Mine!
Year: 1995
Line-up: Erich Wida (vocals), Chris Yamamoto (guitar), Jack Azevedo (bass), Mike Patterson (drums)

Track Listing:

01. Can’t Find My Way 02. Takin’ All My Money 03. Judging The Book By The Cover 04. Soldier Of Misfortune 05. Gone Away 06. Nothin’ Left To Lose 07. Memory’s Gone 08. What’s Buggin’ Me 09. One Step Closer 10. I Am The Killer

Fletchanator's comment: I previously posted the ultra-rare cassette-only 1990 EP by this band here and now here is the only full-length album from this Hawaiian four-piece. 

Whereas the EP has a sleazy edge to it (while being firmly in the melodic metal camp), on No Uncle of Mine Open Fire have ramped up the heavy side of things, to the point where I can hear influences from Pantera (their heavier stuff not their early glam material), Faith No More and Alice in Chains (some of the harmonies, not the music). No doubt this move away from hair metal was due to the changing music scene and an attempt to cash in on what was hot at the time. It's a shame but Open Fire certainly aren't the only band to have done this.

If you're a fan of any of the bands I mentioned above and like your hard rock a little heavy with a side helping of funk, you'll enjoy this.

 

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Open Fire - Open Fire EP [1990]

Country: USA

Year: 1990

Line-up: Erich Wida (vocals), Chris Yamamoto (guitars), Jack Acevedo (bass), Birdie (Drums)

Track Listing:
1. Top of the Heap
2. Feel the Power
3. Love Comes Tumblin' Down
4. Lying to Yourself

Fletchanator's comment: Following on from the cassette rip I posted of Wild Child, here is another release that as far as I know is only available on tape. Open Fire were a four-piece from Hawaii, a land that is hardly synonymous with heavy metal. They later released a full-length album, No Uncle of Mine, on CD in 1995. But none of the songs on this self-released EP were included on that, so this is likely the only place you can hear these tracks. Bassist Jack Acevedo has uploaded some Open Fire songs onto youtube, but today the band are pretty much a footnote in history. Singer Wida apparently joined a metal covers band called Slug after Open Fire split up.
Soundwise, I can hear similarities with Motley Crue, LA Guns and bands of that ilk but they also incorporate a heavier, faster sound that adds elements of traditional heavy metal bands like Metal Church and Accept.

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