Collection of stellar instrumentals, fusing metalcore with traditional rock
As of 2021, Heiress is a well-established band formed in 2006 out of Seattle, Washington. The group recently released their fifth album, Distant Fires, on December 3rd. This is their first release since Made Wrong, which came out in 2016.
After five years with Deathwish Inc., Heiress began to release music through the Georgia-based label The Mylene Sheath in 2015 and have remained with them ever since. Their latest album comes after a series of roster changes over the past 15 years—the current lineup consists of Wes Reed and Nathan Turpen on guitars, Justin Martinez on drums, John Pettibone on vocals and Mat Houot on bass. Reed is the only member who remains from the original lineup.
Distant Fires is a very strong addition to the band’s discography. It’d be an understatement to call the instrumentals on this album excellent, as each song could stand on its own without vocals. They aren’t homogenous either—some songs like “Straying Eye” are intense while others, like “Collides,” are calmer. Reed and Turpen’s guitar talents stand out as they expertly adapt to each song’s distinct mood. They control the pace of these instrumentals—on some tracks, they play slower and more tranquil, but one track later, they could be going all out and accelerating to warp speed.
The standout songs on Distant Fires are “All Ends” and “Beyond Devotions.” The former kicks off the album nicely, with interlocking guitars and drums that balance a metalcore sound with one that’s more moderate, more traditionally rock. “Beyond Devotions” does something similar, with an exceptional mix of guitars and drums that balances metalcore and traditional rock. “Beyond Devotions” does provide more vocals than “All Ends,” making for a more all-around exceptional performance that stays true to the post-rock influences of Heiress.
The vocals are also very strong, albeit limited. Distant Fires mostly seems to rely on its stellar instrumentals rather than its vocals. The vocals do not play that often as Heiress opts for a more instrumentally focused album. Although the vocals are not played as often, they still complement the instrumentals well and provide for an enjoyable listening experience.
Altogether, there isn’t anything wrong at all with Distant Fires. Every single track has its own eccentric sound that shows off the group’s musical chops and endlessly captivates the listener. And even though vocals are sparingly used, they’re still employed nicely, complimenting each song well. The only downside for some listeners is that it can be very moderate, often sounding like a more conventional rock album. For metalheads who prefer more extreme stylings, this could be an issue. Regardless, many metal fans will undoubtedly appreciate these instrumentals and will be immediately drawn into each song. Largely thanks to the strength of its instrumentals alone, Distant Fires is another exceptional release from Heiress.
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