Despite having a solid decade of metal experience under their bullet belts, 2026 is the first I’m hearing of Spanish traditional metallers, Rave in Fire. I’m sure many other headbangers can say the same, thanks to the good folks at High Roller Records. Even the band themselves must be conscious of this. Why else would they title their sophomore album, Square One? Wouldn’t Square Two make more sense? Well, sure, if everyone in the trad metal sphere was aware of their debut, 2022’s independently released Sons of a Lie. This was not the case, so Rave in Fire (or RiF for short) are taking us back to, you guessed it, Square One.
As much as I cringe at the terminology, Rave in Fire are a “female-fronted” band. Technically, they are a partially “female-backed” band as well (Sara Carretero handles bass duties, while drummer Jimi Susanna and guitarist Jonjo Negrete represent the XY chromosomes), but it’s frontwoman Selene Perdiguero who takes centerstage throughout the better part of Square One, evoking shades of the powerhouse singers of yesteryear. Think along the lines of Doro, Leather Leone, Pat Benatar, and most prominently, Lee Aaron. Considering the vast array of classic metal sounds showcased on this album, from melodic to speed and everything in between, I can’t help but envision this being the follow-up to Aaron’s Call of the Wild (1985) that never was.
The opening “Dark Poison” reflects the neon-lit wonderworld that makes up Square One‘s cover, specializing in the type of Priest-flavored melodic speed metal that was mastered by the late, great Traveler. Sure, the formula has been beaten to death, but few acts have the grip on it that Rave in Fire has, and I would’ve had no problem with a full outing of leather-studded speedsters. Alas, there is far more to Rave in Fire than a need for speed. This is evidenced by the metallized AOR shimmer of cuts like “Crown of Stars”, “Still Standing”, and “Knightwalker”. Whereas Pat Benatar would go metal mode for a song or two on her ’80s outings, only to retreat back to accessible power pop and quirky new wave, Lee Aaron’s early output was essentially an answer to the question, “What if Benatar made a full metal album?” These melodic moments on Square One answer the same question, far better than most other “female-fronted” acts today.
Of course, Rave in Fire have no problem unleashing the urges of their fast-pumping metal hearts when they want to, contrasting these more accessible moments with the obligatory Priest-inspired outbursts. One need not look further than “Untiring Eagles” and “Speed and Rave” to surmise this is a band who graduated from the University of Defenders of the Faith (the album, not the webzine). “Witches’ Hell” gives us a further glimpse into Rave in Fire’s hard rocking side, marrying Dokken-esque Sunset Strip swagger with the type of pseudo-occult lyricism that’d keep Tipper Gore up at night in 1984. Rounding it all out, a title track that deceives the listener into thinking they’re gonna get a ballad, only to be walloped by one last ’80s speed outburst for the road.
How appropriate that this band brands themselves Rave in Fire, because I can’t rave enough about their kickass ’80s metal sound. As I’ve said in the past, I’m not sure how much further the so-called “NWOTHM” can go, as the entire movement seems to have overstayed its welcome by at least a half-decade by now. And then, out of the blue, a band like Rave in Fire will come along to remind me that it hasn’t all been for nil, and that it is possible, in the year 2026, to make fresh, exciting, scorching hot tunes out of the sounds of yore. Square One is anything BUT square! It’s ONE monster of an album, and in this case, the monster is a cyborg gator walking the streets at night. Look out!
9 out of 10
Label: High Roller Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Lee Aaron, Warlock, Judas Priest