Astral Rejection


Astral Rejection is the second album by American experimental band I Set My Friends on Fire. The album's original release date was June 22, 2010 but due to line-up changes and the original recordings being scrapped, it was pushed back by almost a year to June 21, 2011.

Release

The first single to be released from the album was a demo called "Excite Dyke", which was released on June 15, 2010. The second single, "It Comes Naturally" was released on March 21, 2011. On June 24, 2011 the third single, "Life Hertz" was released on PureVolume. On June 13, 2011 a music video for their fourth single called "Astral Rejection" was released on YouTube.
On June 16, 2011 the band began streaming the entire album on their Facebook page. The album was released in stores on June 21, 2011. The song "Fast To The End" by Thursday was included as a bonus track on some release versions of Astral Rejection. The song is given the title "TEST" on the album.

Original Version

In early 2017, early pre-production demos were posted to the bands VK account. These songs include early versions of the songs "Excite Dyke", "Astral Rejection", "Narcissismfof", and "Infinite Suck"; the later half differ tremendously from the final album versions. The demos are noticeably absent of auto-tune, which was abundant on the final mix. The unmastered recordings were intended to be the final tracklist, but was rejected by Epitaph Records.
In an interview with DEAD PRESS! whilst touring the UK in 2018, the label's decision to scrap the original version of the record caused tension between the two members and a large amount of stress on Nabil Moo forcing him to leave the band. Matt Mehana was then forced to handle the writing duties solo, later recruiting Chris Lent of From First To Last into the line-up.
Reportedly, in the same interview, Mehana stated that Epitaph Records have since been in touch with him with the intention of releasing the originally recorded album officially under the name of "O.G. Astral Rejection" or "Original Astral Rejection".
On March 7, 2019, the band confirmed that the shelved and original version of "Astral Rejection" would get an official release through Epitaph Records on March 29, 2019.

Track listing

Touring

To support the new album, ISMFOF played the fourth annual Artery Foundation Across the Nation Tour with Of Mice and Men. The band has played several new songs, including "Excite Dyke", "Erectangles" and "Narcissismfof". The band played Warped Tour 2011, and opened for A Skylit Drive on their Identity on Fire tour in Europe in September. A Dance Gavin Dance tour was planned for November with ISMFOF as the opening act, but was cancelled.

Reception

Astral Rejection met with mixed-to-negative reviews. Critic Phil Freeman of the Alternative Press gave the album 1 star out of 5, stating, "The music is as annoying as ever, mixing the worst qualities of Brokencyde, I See Stars and Agoraphobic Nosebleed into one swirling blend of cheesy rave synths, ultra-affected 'extreme' vocals, talentless guitar mangling, ultra-primitive drum programming and song titles that probably seemed funny at the time. It's hard to decide which is the album's worst quality—Mehana's scratchy-throated “extreme” vocals or his lame, off-key attempts to sing cleanly."
Critic Rob Sleigh of Stereoboard.com was more positive, giving the album a 6 out of 10 rating, stating, "I Set My Friends on Fire may remind of fellow Floridian metalcore band A Day To Remember, although the synth-pop technique that they frequently employ occasionally reeks with the scent of Owl City... The combination of pop music and hardcore was always a bit of a hard sell to begin with, but I Set My Friends on Fire seem to have taken this to the next level."
Despite negative critical reception, Astral Rejection peaked at #9 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart.

Personnel