Punkbands.com

The promo material for this band is soaked in strange references to making "Southern California the true heart of hardcore again" and "bringing back a West Coast punk/hardcore revival." I'm always wary of the scene battle rhetoric, because usually when East/West is resorted to it masks a lack of content. And the truth is, GftF will likely not be starting a scene revival for the "few believers" with their generic delivery and mediocre-at-best lyrics.

Basically, they sound like Bane with looser guitars and weaker lyrics; they are fast and energetic at times, with shouting vocals and crunchy guitars. The third track, "Eyeliner," sounds particularly like a Bane clone, calling to mind "Snakes Among Us" with its slow bass intro and staccato guitars layering it. Unfortunately, they usually use only one chord progression and alternate the strum or palm muting for choruses or breakdowns, which makes the record feel tiring even though it doesn't even break twenty minutes in length. The lyrics are also definitely on the mediocre side, for instance in the first song: "When I see you again/You are going to wish you were my friend," interspersed between shouted swear words.

I'm not sure what more to say about this but that GftF has a lot of work ahead of them if they want to "behead the music worlds (sic) version of 'punk.'"

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Punk Rock Theory.com

I don't know when it became a "must" for insects to get a grave. I always presumed smashing them on the wall with the bottom of my shoes was a good enough burial ceremony. Anyway, I also presume that Grave for the Fireflies isn't about burying insects, but about killing the damn light-giving flies to end up in the dark. Grave for the Fireflies hails from Southern California, and plays a pretty dark kind of hardcore/punk. Influences range from Black Flag and the Nerve Agents to Circle Jerks and The Murder City Devils. So it's pretty damn hard, and at times pretty melodic. The songs are pretty basic, but passionate. Some contain some cliche things, as do the song titles about death, misery and other dark stuff. "Bitten" has it's moments, but it can't keep me rockin' the whole 11 songs.

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Maximum Rock n' Roll

I can't go into this review without saying that I think their band name is ridiculously dumb (although they must be named after that anime flick with the same name). With that said, GRAVE FOR THE FIREFLIES cranks out some upbeat hardcore tunes with a very polished production. The music is catchy and energetic and the vocals are strong throughout. But I prefer my tunes with more grit and aggression and this didn't really float my boat. Fans of the NERVE AGENTS should take note. - (RC)

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THE BIG TAKEOVER

Bleeder Resistor "Sixteen" / Grave for the Fireflies "Bitten" (Basement Records)
Baltimore meets So Cal on two hardcore cd's from Basement. Bleeder Resistor, led by ex-Latchkey's Jeff Forbes, continue the nearby tradition from early Scream, Out of Step Minor Threat, and Dag Nasty, with a pop thrash-hardcore mix six-song ep, full of shouty vocals and blastfurnace, tight intensity. They have a song called "We Are the Ones" that's not an Avengers cover, "Deade Cities" isn't the Exploited single, and "Sixteen" isn't the Buzzcocks song, but they're good old style all the way. Conversely, Grave for the Fireflies, today's Circle One, are less interesting thanks to excruciating screaming that passes for vocals (making Dez Cadena and Henry Rollins circa "Police Story" sound like Barry Gibb). Still, knowing they're from the OC, that bastion of conservative stilted suburbia, makes their inchoate hatred ("You in a Body Bag Would Teach Me How To Smile"), fervent disrespect ("Dead Poets Society"), and nihilism ("Bite Marks") cathartic somehow, for all stuck in Laguna Niguel-land!

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BIG WHEEL MAGAZINE

This is pretty bad if you ask me. Is this what vampires listen to? I hope not. I'd like to think they listen to Slayer. Any vampire who listens to this probably gets their blood from robbing donation drives. The vocals are weak with no oomph whatsoever. The music is lackluster of any redeemable quality. Is it Goth, or punk or psychobilly? No genre would hone this band. Lame vampire music, that's what this is. Sorry Grave For The BUTTERflies, but you will not find a fan of me. - WM