Hand of Fire

Hand of Fire
OriginConcord, California
GenreThrash metal
Years active2015-present
LabelRottweiler
MembersJim Settle
Tiago Souza
Gary Neff
Forrest Nelson
Scotty McRib
Past membersCorey Steger
Tom Eaton
Jason Borton
Greg Christian
Marcel Eaton
Bill Davies
Websitehandoffire.band

Hand of Fire is an American thrash metal band from California. The project was formed in 2010 as a collaboration between Jim Settle (formerly of Tantrum of the Muse) and Corey Steger (formerly of Underoath) before evolving into a full band in 2015 under Settle's leadership. After signing with Rottweiler Records in 2016, they released their debut album, Nuclear Sunrise, in 2017. The band has undergone several lineup changes, including brief stints with former Testament bassist Greg Christian and Jungle Rot drummer Jason Borton. As of 2024, the band consists of Jim Settle (vocals), Tiago Souza (lead guitar), Forrest Nelson (rhythm guitar), Scotty McRib (bass, backing vocals), and Gary Neff (drums). They play a modern take on thrash metal, drawing from classic and contemporary styles.

Background

Hand of Fire started in 2010 as a collaboration between Jim Settle (formerly of Tantrum of the Muse) and Corey Steger (formerly of Underoath). The duo's material caught the attention of Rottweiler Records, who offered them a contract. Geographical constraints led to Steger's departure. Settle established an official lineup featuring members from his other project, Bore.

By 2015, Hand of Fire was a full band fronted by Settle. The band officially signed with Rottweiler Records in May 2016, with a lineup consisting of vocalist Jim Settle, guitarist Tiago Souza, bassist Tom Eaton, and drummer Bill Davies. Their debut album, initially titled Let the Killings Begin, was scheduled for release in December 2016. The band released a lyric video for the title track, and released the album, retitled Nuclear Sunrise, on November 17, 2017, to critical acclaim.

On August 24, 2018, the band premiered the track "World of Deception" on The Covenant Metal Show through Reanimated Radio. The band underwent lineup changes in March 2019. Bassist Tom Eaton and drummer Bill Davies departed, replaced with Greg Christian (ex-Testament) and Jason Borton (Jungle Rot, Kataklysm), respectively. By March 2020, Davies returned to the band and Marcel Eaton, formerly of Trauma, joined as the new bassist, replacing Borton and Christian. Corey Steger died in a car accident on March 17, 2021.

Members

Current members
Name Instrument Years Other groups
Jim Settle lead vocals 2010–present Tantrum of the Muse, Once Dead, Vengeance Rising, Slag, Bore, Intercessor
Tiago James Souza lead guitar 2015–present Bore, Perpetual Paranoia, Through the Clouds, Godman, The Thomas Thompson Earth Project
Gary Neff drums 2024–present Shadowkiller, Forced Psychosis, Power Shift, Roswell
Forrest Nelson rhythm guitar 2024–present
Scotty McRib bass, backing vocals 2024–present Almost Dead, WarTroll, Gurschach, Karmic Debt
Former members
Name Instrument Years Other groups
Corey Steger lead guitar 2010-2015 (died 2021) Underoath, Symmetry Point
Tom Eaton bass 2015-2018 Bomb and Scary, Something Left Unsaid, Bore
Greg Christian bass 2019–2020 Testament, Trauma, HavocHate, Fallen Trinity, Wreck-Defy, Legacy, Meshiaak
Jason Borton drums 2019–2020 Jungle Rot, Kataklysm, Throne of Awful Splendor, Treasonist, Thanatopsis, Where Lovers Rot, Seized of Darkness, Velaraas, Zorakarer, Arkaik, Mortal Plague, Beyond the Red Horizon, Nocturnal Plague, Zero Divide
Marcel Eaton bass 2020–2024 Trauma, Discordia, Serpent & Seraph
Bill Davies drums 2015-2019, 2020–2023 Chürchfield, Bore
Timeline

Discography

Demo

Studio albums

Singles

Compilation appearances

References

  1. 1 2 Pirtle, Dave (May 2016). "5Q5A - Hand of Fire". Lastrit.es. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Stagg, David (October 28, 2016). "HM PREMIERE: Hand of Fire drops new lyric video for "Let the Killings Begin"". HM Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Settle, Jim (September 19, 2016). "Interview: Hand of Fire". Interviewed by Mace Beard. The Bearded Dragon. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  4. ↑ Hand of Fire on Facebook
  5. ↑ DarcyRumble (May 18, 2016). "Rottweiler Records Releases Teaser Of New Thrash Signing Hand Of Fire". Giants in the Sound. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ Rottweiler Records (May 13, 2016). "Rottweiler Records announcement". Facebook. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ Beard, Mason (October 17, 2016). "Rottweiler Records Announce Release Date for Hand of Fire's Let the Killings Begin". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  8. ↑ Beard, Mason (October 28, 2016). "Hand of Fire Dropped "Let the Killings Begin" Lyric Video". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Moore, Bruce (October 5, 2017). "Hand of Fire - "Nuclear Sunrise"". Pure Grain Audio. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Sullivan, Christan (October 2, 2017). "Nuclear Sunrise - Hand Of Fire Review" (PDF). The Metal Resource. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  11. 1 2 Beard, Mason (November 17, 2017). "Album Review: Hand of Fire - Nuclear Sunrise". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  12. ↑ Sullivan, Christian (March 10, 2019). "Change Of Direction For Hand Of Fire". The Metal Onslaught. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ Sullivan, Christian (March 3, 2020). "Hand Of Fire and New Line-Up". The Metal Onslaught. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Dowd, Rachel (March 19, 2021). "Former Underoath Guitarist Corey Steger Has Died In A Car Accident". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ "'Perpetual Paranoia' – An International Collaboration Between 'Dale Thompson' (Bride) & 'Tiago James De Souza' (Hand of Fire)". The Metal Resource. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  16. ↑ Settle, Jim (April 12, 2015). "Jim Settle (Tantrum Of The Muse)". Interviewed by Stephen Sarro and Trav Turner. As the Story Grows. Retrieved July 10, 2016.