Hi all.
You will find a track from Mars Bonfire now up on this site, as well as pics from the Gig at The Shoestring Venue on Friday night.
Here is what is being said about this band (I particularly like Jimmy Pages comments!):
Best Classic Rock Band of 2007/8! These guys are a breathe of fresh air on the rock circuit, a couple of covers and whole host of their own material in the style of Hendrix and Led Zep, they look and sound like every inch of the rock stars they are about to become.
>It's Only Rock'n'Roll Magazine<
Many of the debut EPs I have received to review have sounded like they were recorded either in a tin bath or from outside a shed. Most are also average at best. With that in mind the first thing about Mars Bonfire's 3-track EP offering that hit me like the proverbial sledgehammer was the sheer quality of the recording itself. I nearly fell off the chair when the opening notes proper of "See The Light" came blasting through my headphones. Big bonus points already.
So, OK, it sounds good, but what's it like? Well, fresh from one surprise came another hot on its heels, with some of the best riff-laden hard rockin' I think I've ever heard from a band at such a fledgling stage of their careers. The press blurb mentioned the 70's and Led Zep quite a lot, whilst also giving a nod to Guns N Roses, Deep Purple and Black Crows. To be honest it no way prepared me for the supreme aural assault that you get from Mars Bonfire.
This EP is designed as a taster of things to come in the shape of a full-length CD and, after just one listen, I cannot wait to hear more if they can maintain this standard. All three tracks are really excellent both in terms of playing and the songs themselves. Opener "See The Light" kicks things off in fine style with some great guitar work from the hugely talented Remi Harris who is destined to be a household name, if there's any justice. Singer Martin Martyn is a bit of a vocal
chameleon, at times reminiscent of the full-on fury of Ricky Warwick whilst at others the laid back groove of Chris Robinson and elsewhere the screaming attitude of Axl Rose or Phil Lewis.
Sounds like hype, I know, but trust me, he really has something about him which you can just feel pour out of the speakers, without ever having even seen a picture of him. If he can recreate half of this swaggering attitude live, then he will be one hell of a dynamic frontman.
Second track "You Find You" is my personal favourite of the three with its awesomely heavy intro and yet more fine riffing and great vocals. It has an infectious melody which builds to an almost Metallica-like chorus. Again, the production and sound quality is spot on thanks to the talents of Gavin Monaghan, who has worked with the like of The Editors and Kings Of Leon, neither of
whom have ever sounded as good as this. A superb job which does justice to the Mars Bonfire juggernaut.
Third and final track "Here Nor There" is the one most responsible for most of the 70s references mentioned in their press blurb, especially in the guitar work from the consistently impressive Harris and the more bluesy verse vocals from Martyn, although that snarling attitude is never far away, especially when the song morphs from 70s groove to contemporary hard rocker during the chorus. The extensive solo is pure 70s though and played to perfection.
In summary, this is easily the best debut EP I have ever heard and not so much whets the appetite as has me salivating at the leash to hear the full blown album. Brilliant!!
>>Paul Williams www.hardrockhouse.com<<
What a month November has been, Mars Bonfire are the band everybody's talking about. Nothing I say about this band can do them justice, they are without doubt the best band I've seen this year.
>>Mick Moonshine, It's Only Rock'n'Roll Magazine, Dec 2007<<
When I think of the current crop of British bluesy rock bands around I think of Rattlesnake Remedy, Sweet Seduction and Crimes of Passion. Now, I think there's another to add to the list - Mars Bonfire. This EP from Mars Bonfire is full of blues raw sound with all the riffs of an early Aerosmith or even the mighty Zep with a pounding rhythm section and the big lungs to compliment the music. The Blues Rock scene is healthy in the UK right now and Mars Bonfire could be adding more life to it, I hope there live performances are as big, musically tight and as full of energy as this recording if so I can't wait to catch the guys live.
"See The Light" is a big raucous anthem that could become a future signature number for the band in years to come. The second track "You Find You" has a Reef Glow quality about it with a softer riff but still with those big vocal sounds that just reminded me of Gary Stringer at times.
Maybe the track could have wound down a little sooner but all the same a great tune. Track 3 "Here Nor There" is another big balls-out tune with a catchy riff that'll have all you air guitar maestros pounding your leg and again. Martin Martyn's vocals pay tribute to some of the biggest voices in hard rock. Fantastic sound full of angst and boy, he means it!
Of all the demos and EPs I've heard in the last 12-18 months this in my opinion is one of the most complete and professional ones I've heard and with all the demos I've heard that says a lot! After all this is very high on my play list right now I'm loving it!
Catch them live around the Midlands soon they have a comprehensive list of dates on their myspace page - nice one guys!
>>Andy UK Rox Magazine<<
Mars Bonfire are booked into The Sitwell Tavern Derby on a Saturday night. The band arrived and were so laid back they should have fell over. The first thing I noticed was Martin Martyn (vocalist) he looked a bit like Paul Rodgers (Free) in his early days - he even had the same stance. Remi Harris lead guitar and will definitely be known throughout the land, it's just a matter of time. A brilliant guitarist. Karl Dixon on bass was equally splendid and Shane Dixon on drums
(superb) and reminded me of the Groundhogs drummer from earlier times, these guys played with the same conviction of their earlier peers. A time machine taking them back to days of early classic rock legends, Purple and Led Zep would see them playing alongside these great legends in their own right. You've got a chance to see them in a few weeks again at The Sitwell Tavern on Friday November 10th this will probably be the best night of the year at The Sitwell. Mars Bonfire released their 1st EP on October 1st 2007 and is available for download at all digital retailers and is also a taster for their forthcoming album. I've seen maybe a couple hundred bands this year Mars Bonfire are the best.
>>Mick Moonshine, It's Only Rock'n'Roll Magazine, October 2007<<
Mars Bonfire See The Light EPA lot of noise has been made about this Herefordshire outfit, people to get excited include the legendary Jimmy Page. And after listening to this belting 3 track EP, it's easy to see why. It's like being thrust back into the 70's, with super slick guitar riffs, catchy rhythm and simple yet effective lyrics. The EP starts with 'See The Light' a fast paced wondrous jam, next on the agenda is 'You Find You' a melodic rock song with some brilliant guitar work. The album finishes with the storming 'Here Not There' which will leave you panting and wanting more. The whole EP reminds of Led Zeppelin, this could be a band that many people have been waiting for, and maybe, just maybe, it might be Mars Bonfire who fill a rock void left in so many of our hearts.
Available to download now, I suggest you get it, play it loud, and play it fast.
>>Ian Black 'The View' University of Worcester October 2007<<
Little-known openers Mars Bonfire made an enormous impression on everyone in the room. Their riff-heavy brand of grooving rock 'n' roll not only suited the Rose Hill Drive fans, but so was impressively executed by such a talented band, all of which clearly relished playing their instruments, that everyone in the building instantly took notice. Most akin to a heavy Black Crowes, the four-piece played a mixture of covers (including Jimi Hendrix's Red House sung passionately by bassist Karl Dixon) and originals from their self-titled debut EP. They were
comfortably the most outstanding support band I've seen this year so far and I will definitely be seeing them again".
>>Jukebox Music Rocks
(http://jukebo.cx/archives/2007/03/06/rose-hill-drive-metro/)<<
Electrifying rawk from the firm local favourites, Martin howling out the vocals with his engrossing stage persona and Remi's guitar playing straight from Hendrix's wildest dreams.
>>Mike Wynn, BBC Hereford and Worcester<<
It is guitar rock of the very best sort: hard and dynamic…. the guitar work is pretty stunning and it's crystal clear… it gives me a welcome rush of blood every time I put it on"
>>Cool Noise<<
"…that is some legit shit you have there …keep writing music just how you are, and tell your guitar player I dig his riffs. That's the thing I miss most about the 70's…the riffs… I don't know where the fuck they've run off to, but wherever they were you sure as hell found them. Best of luck…"
>>Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin<<
"…musically you clearly know what you are doing."
>>Johnny Rocker, Roadstar<<
You can purchase Mars Bonfires album, "SEE THE LIGHT" from the following:
http://hmv.com
http://www.towerrecords
http://www.yooreka.co.uk
Cheers, Ju