Chainfire

Chainfire don’t get your attention. They grab it from your fucking throat.
There’s a reason that this commanding Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based hard rock/metal quartet is poised for dominance over the Canadian metal scene. Refusing to rest on their laurels and waiting for success to come to them, this bombastic outfit is in the trenches “grabbing” it for themselves. Relentless and pointed, Chainfire’s outlook is as cunning and powerful as their hard rock-infused metal.
“Instead of dreaming and talking about it, we’re doing it,” says vocalist/guitarist Bradley about Chainfire’s already-impressive career. Barely past their first anniversary, Bradley, Chris, Richard and Colin have already exceeded the seemingly-lofty goals of many peers including the release of independent full-length Details in January 2007, an impending Canadian tour and upcoming video for track “Under Me.” One can’t deny Bradley when he deadpans that in Chainfire, “there’s no beating around the bush.”
Finding its earliest incarnation a decade ago as childhood friends established their musical chops, Chainfire formed as a collection of Saskatoon’s most intense musicians brought together through similar musical interests and attitudes. Notes Bradley,
“Chris and I have such a chemistry and history that songs come together quickly. We’ve been working together musically for years so we have a strong understanding of each other. Richard and Colin came to the band just over a year ago and we knew this was the right lineup for what we want to accomplish.”
With a sound comprised of blistering rhythms capped by guttural albeit melodic vocal melodies thrust forward by grinding bass and drums, the Chainfire style is muscular and brutish while still incredibly enticing. Twisting a diverse musical past together over a foundation of heavy metal, the inflections of many musical genres create a dynamic, forthright sound that is instantly unforgettable and original. Refusing to be pinned into one minute aspect of metal, Chainfire has created their own genre that perfectly encapsulates their direction.
“We call it hard rock-metal,” shrugs Bradley. “There are so many things I know we’re not but we’ve been called a metal band and a hard rock band. We bridge gaps within the scene; the album has everything from soft to heavy…we have our separate influences and bring something completely unique to the table from industrial metal to ‘70s rock through straight-forward metal. The Chainfire sound comes from all of us in our own musical manner.”
As principal lyricist for the band, Bradley relates that the majority of Chainfire’s lyrics take a personal twist, drawing from whatever strikes him deeply.
“Everything from past experiences to shit that just comes boiling out of my head. I have no idea where some stuff comes from. It can be personal or really, really dark which I don’t understand because I certainly didn’t have a fucked up childhood. It’s not really observationally based though. I’m too self-absorbed to watch everyone else,” he jests.
Adding to Chainfire’s list of accomplishments, their performances across the Prairies have garnered the band endless airplay for “Lay Down,” over two provinces, top honours and awards in a host of competitions and a ravenous fan base that is ever-growing. Dynamic and inventive while still clutching tightly onto unforgettable melodies and rhythms, the nine songs that comprise Details translate into boundless energy and restless ambition. Projecting on the future of Chainfire, Bradley is characteristically blunt.
“We’re not content with only staying in Saskatoon. We’re young enough that we can afford to do this and have the rest of our lives to pay it off. We’ve got the energy and means now. Considering the length of time we’ve been together, we’re happy but we’re working harder. We’re going for it.”