#squareone — Public Fediverse posts

While I may be a product of the 80s, I have almost zero direct recollection of the decade itself. Born in 1985, I didn’t become self aware until the 90s.1 So, essentially, by the time I could form long-lasting memories, most of the world’s great music had already been written. Perhaps my inaccessible 80s origins explain why I am drawn to things from and about the era. The bizarre color schemes, the bombastic musical aesthetic, the cheesy-yet-awesome cinema, all of it gives me a satisfyingly melancholic sense of nostalgia. The 80s feel like my own personal primordial, mythological paradise, a Garden of Eden to which I can never return. The gate is eternally guarded by a cherub wielding a flaming sword, but thanks to bands like Rave in Fire, I need not risk being divinely smote in order to feel like I’m back in the garden, all innocent, naked, and happy.

Just one look at that glorious album cover should tell you that Spain’s Rave in Fire oozes 80s glory. Lead single “Still Standing” sounds like it rode a tiger straight outta Ronnie James Dio’s mind with its driving groove, intricate guitar leads, and the effortlessly powerful vocals of singer Sele. The track is so 80s that it would fit perfectly over the top of a Rocky IV fight scene or training montage (one of my primary measuring sticks for quality 80s music, I might add).

Square One by Rave In Fire

If metal was doing something cool in the 1980s, it’s a good bet that Rave in Fire does it too. “Witches’ Hell” captures the swagger of peak Scorpions, the instrumental opener and its successor scream Screaming-era Judas Priest, and “Untiring Eagles” and “Speed and Rave” sound like Megadeth from an alternate reality, one where Dave Mustaine is female and can actually sing. The closing title track displays the band’s more ambitious aims, mixing all of the above-mentioned influences with progressive rock a la Rush and/or Kansas. Overall, Rave in Fire does everything they do with so much competence and authenticity that they’re hard not to love.

My only real nitpick with Square One involves the transition from the “The Hellion”-esque opener into first proper track “Dark Poison.” The switch just doesn’t match up very well, so much so that I checked multiple times to make sure I hadn’t unwittingly messed up the track order. It’s a fairly minor flaw in the grand scheme of a 42-minute album, but it’s jarring each time nonetheless. Instrumentally, Rave in Fire is stacked with talent. Guitarist Jonjo puts on a classic metal/rock clinic, and the rhythm section (Sara on bass and Jimi on drums) displays impressive chemistry. But the MVP trophy goes to vocalist Sele. Her passionate performance is just spectacular, sounding so unbelievably genuine and lending Square One a pleasing patina of seemingly long-lost classic status, and, fortunately, the beautiful production only enhances the luster of that patina.

When I picked Square One out of the promo sump, I’d just finished Stranger Things and was yearning to fill that 80s-shaped hole in my heart. After spinning this dozens of times, I can confidently say that Rave in Fire has done just that. This band is loaded with talent, and I expect more very good albums from them in the future.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: High Roller Records
Websites: raveinfire.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/raveinfire
Releases Worldwide: January 30th, 2026

BE ABOUT IT FEST: Saturday

toscadura, Saturday, August 23 at 03:00 PM EDT

BE ABOUT IT PROUDLY PRESENTS…

Be About It Fest Vol 01. August 22nd and 23rd. All Ages. For the youth and the keepers of the faith.

Saturday

Doors: 3:00pm
Repossessed: 4:00pm
Sold Short: 4:35pm
Square One: 5:10pm
Headless World: 5:45pm
Iron Crusaders: 6:20pm
Kings Command: 6:55pm
The Next Level: 7:30pm
Cutdown: 8:05pm
Cesspool: 8:40pm
Chain Block: 9:15pm
All 4 All: 9:50pm
Bad Beat: 10:25pm
Restraining Order: 11:00pm
Naysayer: END

Tickets: https://beaboutitzine.bigcartel.com/

Sorry no links to the bands ¯\(ツ)/¯

https://montreal.askapunk.net/event/be-about-it-fest-saturday

BE ABOUT IT FEST 2025

toscadura, Friday, August 22 at 05:00 PM EDT

BE ABOUT IT PROUDLY PRESENTS…

Be About It Fest Vol 01. August 22nd and 23rd. All Ages. For the youth and the keepers of the faith.

CONTENTION
RAW BRIGADE
NAYSAYER
BAD BEAT
CASINO
CESSPOOL
CHAIN BLOCK
CUTDOWN
DIE ALONE
FREEZERBURN
HEADLESS WORLD
HEAVENSCOLDHANDS
IRON CRUSADERS
KING'S COMMAND
THE NEXT LEVEL
REPOSSESSED
RUFF PUFF
SOLD SHORT
SQUARE ONE
STATEMENT OF PRIDE
UNMOVED
WILL TO SPEAK

Early bird tickets are up now…first 50 tickets available at a discount. Limited capacity so act fast and don’t come crying about it later.

https://beaboutitzine.bigcartel.com/product/be-about-it-fest

https://montreal.askapunk.net/event/be-about-it-fest-2025

BE ABOUT IT presents: FESTINY 2025

toscadura, Friday, August 22 at 05:00 PM EDT

BE ABOUT IT PROUDLY PRESENTS…

Be About It Fest Vol 01. August 22nd and 23rd. All Ages. For the youth and the keepers of the faith.

CONTENTION
RAW BRIGADE
NAYSAYER
BAD BEAT
CASINO
CESSPOOL
CHAIN BLOCK
CUTDOWN
DIE ALONE
FREEZERBURN
HEADLESS WORLD
HEAVENSCOLDHANDS
IRON CRUSADERS
KING'S COMMAND
THE NEXT LEVEL
REPOSSESSED
RUFF PUFF
SOLD SHORT
SQUARE ONE
STATEMENT OF PRIDE
UNMOVED
WILL TO SPEAK

Early bird tickets are up now…first 50 tickets available at a discount. Limited capacity so act fast and don’t come crying about it later.

https://beaboutitzine.bigcartel.com/product/be-about-it-fest

https://montreal.askapunk.net/event/be-about-it-presents-festiny-2025

Ich bin immer schon zufrieden, wenn ich das 3x3 Grid in einem Monat voll bekomme. Auch im März hat das wieder geklappt… 😊 Ein Highlight war #IKI. Hätte nicht gedacht, dass das mit der Tochter schon so gut funktioniert. Sie meint, es sei einfach… 👀 Die 2. Partie ging aber an mich. #DieKleinenAlchmisten sind auch Prima und #Yro gefällt zumindest mir sehr gut. #Targi konnte mal wieder den Weg auf den Tisch finden. 🥳 #SquareOne könnte eine Spur zu simpel sein… mal sehen. #brettspiele #bgstats

Heute die Erstpartie #SquareOne mit der Tochter gespielt. Es kommen #Splendor Vibes auf, weil man Teile „tauscht“ und verbessert, um sich die punkteträchtigen Sequenzen leisten zu können. Es gibt Ähnlichkeiten mit dem großen Bruder #ProjectL. Insgesamt aber recht leichte Kost für abends oder zwischendurch, würde ich sagen. Ich muss mir bald mal den Solomodus ansehen. Die Tochter gewann und fand es etwas langweilig… 👀 #brettspiele @brettspiele

Vuelta Group’s SquareOne Acquires Telepool From Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook
#Variety #Global #News #SquareOne #Telepool #VueltaGroup #Westbrook

https://variety.com/2024/film/global/vuelta-squareone-telepool-will-smith-westbrook-1235986753/