Words Like Wildfire is a four piece Post Hardcore band out of Ontario, Canada. The band consists of Ian Archer (lead vocals), AJ Chmilar (bass/vocals), Anthony Zangari (lead guitar), and Avery Mocha (drums). The band recently dropped two singles, “The Rain” and “Painted Pictures”, in support of a three part video series based around mental health, substance abuse, and addiction. Words Like Wildfire did an amazing job of incorporating serious topics into songs that are absolute bangers!
I spoke to the guys of the Words Like Wildfire who shared some information behind the two new singles. When discussing “The Rain”, they said “the goal is to show the depths of how bad it can really get for people. There are so many ways one person’s struggle can ripple through their loved one’s lives. The song itself is about seeing someone for whom you care deeply falling into a cycle of destruction. One can offer guidance, but must learn that we all must save ourselves; ‘you gotta help me help you.’ It also acknowledges one’s own demons; ‘I’ll have you know, I’m a mess.” And how trying to save someone else from ‘drowning in the rain’ can pull you underwater just as quickly.” When I first read that, I immediately said “wow”. I was eager to see how they would portray that message in their music. I was hyped to find out that the depth of emotions I felt while reading that translated perfectly in the song!
“The Rain” is sure to be a fan favorite. It encompasses a variety of styles that make up a wide range of sounds within one track. The very beginning of the song surprised me. It reminds me of a softer Pop-Punk song which is not what I expect when listening to Words Like Wildfire. After a few seconds, the song immediately transitions to heavy, fast guitar chords and drumming during the first verse. Between the sick instrumentals and the nasty breakdown that comes later in the song, “The Rain” will have you moving and head banging the entire time!
“Painted Pictures” featuring Luke Snider of The Parallel is the second song Words Like Wildfire released in support of this three part video series. Between the two, “Painted Pictures” is the darker and heavier song. If you have read any of the reviews I have written in the past, you know I’m a sucker for some heavy and hardcore music. Of course I fell in love with this song from the very first listen! It gives off vibe similar to fellow Canadian band, Silverstein. The screaming vocals combined with the melodic singing vocals pair effortlessly to create that perfect post-hardcore sound that fans are dying for. Words Like Wildfire were able to share some information on the second single as well! “Painted Pictures, visually, was made to showcase our live show/energy. It has the most ‘early 2000s’ feel from the intro and we wanted the punk venue roots to really be showcased. Our light show is also an integral part of the performance and we really try to have the choice of colour palette reflect the song; Painted Pictures in particular stood out as being ‘very purple’ which you’ll notice no shortage of in the DMX programming. Because we play to a click-track, the playthrough footage is actually us playing the actual song. You can watch the raw footage and hopefully get a similar experience! Musically, this song existed in some form long before Words Like Wildfire. Avery had it filed away as an orphan song from a previous project and it seemed to resonate immediately with what we were trying to create. Luke’s vocal feature was a cherry on top of an already delicious sundae and we can’t thank him enough for his contribution.”
If you’ve never heard of Words Like Wildfire before reading this review, you’re making a huge mistake! During a time where most of the world is stuck at home and music is one of the few constants they have in their lives, bands and artists need to do a lot more than usual to stand out in the crowd. Words Like Wildfire have no problem standing out among competing bands in this vast music scene. They know how to use that classic post-hardcore sound that fans have loved since the early 2000s and spin it into their own. Give Words Like Wildfire a follow on their social media pages and check out the new songs on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!