Following their own headline national shows in 2016/2017 and supports alongside fellow Aussie’s Dead Letter Circus, Superheist and Birds Of Tokyo, Melbourne’s Rival Fire are set to release their debut album ‘War’, featuring the tracks ‘Riot’, ‘Badman’, ‘War’ and ‘Dreams’. Following their own headline national shows in 2016/2017 and supports alongside fellow Aussie’s Dead Letter Circus, Superheist and Birds Of Tokyo, Melbourne’s Rival Fire are set to release their debut album ‘War’, featuring the tracks ‘Riot’, ‘Badman’, ‘War’ and ‘Dreams’.

The Melbourne band began their journey in 2013 as a three-piece: Rob had known drummer Matt Darcy for 15 years, and Matt had been working with guitarist Tim Smyth on a different project. The trio began working together on a different, now-defunct project, which actually took them through East Timor and The Solomon Islands early on. Performing for Australian troops was an inspiring experience, and the trio decided to stay together and form a new band – Rival Fire.  

The band began writing and recording immediately, though it was a few years until they added fourth member, bassist Zac Connelly, “to fatten up” their sound. And more recently guitarist John Zamblies joining the band. These were crucial additions to the lineup, and subsequently their whole sound, which continue to evolve over time.

‘War’ – both the song and the entire album, stem from deeply personal experiences. At the same time, it’s about sharing those feelings, battles and experiences with the listener. About showing people they’re not alone, that we all have wars to fight, and demons to overcome. “It’s not a ‘self-help’ kind of thing, but I understand the concept,” says Rob. “Everyone has their own problems and issues, I just want people to know they’re not alone.”  

Rival Fire’s debut album is a musically rugged landscape of explosive peaks and emotive troughs. It’s as much about a single person’s journey as it is about the human experience. Following their own headline national shows in 2016/2017 and supports alongside fellow Aussie’s Dead Letter Circus, Superheist and Birds Of Tokyo, Melbourne’s Rival Fire are set to release their debut album ‘War’, featuring the tracks ‘Riot’, ‘Badman’, ‘War’ and ‘Dreams’.