The Fire & Fury

One Album

Beats, voices, & loud noises – a fitting description for the Minneapolis hiphop/rock/electronic duo known as the|fire&fury.

Fronted by lead vocalist/rapper, Ricky Mickschl, the band has created a form of motivational & politically-centered music that transcends the sound of typical rap/rock. Heavily influenced by their roots in punk music, as well as a lifelong love for hip-hop, the band strives to fuse raw, distorted guitars & synths alongside a hybrid of powerful vocal choruses and blazing rap verses. Finding a way to join these elements has not been a simple task.

“It’s definitely been a challenge. We’ve spent the last year attempting to create something that sounds a little bit ‘different’ from what we’ve grown up listening to. It’s got a little bit of everything,” Mickschl said, “and it’s been an absolute grind that is beginning to come to life. Our hearts have been the only things driving this project to come alive.”

Challenge. Hearts. Two choice words by the band’s frontman that are quite appropriate in describing the band’s core value for existence: to challenge hearts and minds to think differently. “We truly believe in music as a tool to inform people, and to help them think differently,” said guitarist, Rob Mickschl. “Music is such an amazing thing. It’s so emotional, it can carry an immense amount of energy, and it is absolutely something that can be used to motivate people and change views of the world around us.”

Unafraid to discuss issues of inequality in today’s world, the|fire&fury strive to have their music heard by those who both support and oppose its message. “The world is not a fair place, and we have to work to change minds, and to make it better for all of us. It comes down to making positive changes on a small scale, as well as a large scale,” vocalist/rapper Ricky Mickschl said. “Sure, we can stand up on stage and talk the talk, but that’s only part of the equation. We’ve got to walk the walk.” The band not only believes in speaking up, but taking action in the local and global community.

As his twitter bio states, the band’s vocalist works as a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing by day. “I have seen music engage and make changes in students that most would least expect. I often hear people say things like, ‘Wow, you’re a musician, but you teach kids with hearing loss? That doesn’t seem to add up. They can’t hear music, man!’,” Mickschl said. “But it’s the complete opposite. I have an elementary student who is deaf in both ears, wears two cochlear implants, and is one of the most musically talented students that I’ve seen. As soon as I brought in my MPC and let him make a beat, that kid’s whole world lit up. It’s unbelievable how powerful music is, even when you don’t think people can hear it. That’s why we need to make as much noise as possible. That’s why we need to take action. We’ve got to make things better for everyone.”

It is no coincidence that the band’s debut EP is titled, | beats | voices | & | loud noises |. the|fire&fury is here to make some serious noise. Set to release in the Fall of 2015, the Minneapolis-based band wants to be heard, and wants its fans to be a part of their community. “Come to our shows. Come & laugh with us. Come & cry with us. Come & talk issues in your community. Come & discuss your plans to change the world for the better. We want these things more than anything in the world,” Mickschl said. “We want the|fire&fury to be more than just a band. We want it to be a movement.”

Music

5 songs
Song
Length
Actions
1
Dreamers and Believers (Explicit Lyrics) Beats | Voices | & | Loud Noises
03:22

Lyrics:

Only tattoos on my body Scream that seconds can't be wasted Never found the perfect time To let loose and take this Well better late than never, Cause never can't be great Time to light the f*ckin' stage With the music I create And I won't trade it for Anything, anymore We come alive just to paint it for The nine to fivin' folks that need a matador No bullsh*t reasons to stop Won't hold back, dreamin' like I Got a little bit of sweat when I take em' out In a battle singin' this has never been about a song Wrong, but about bein' strong Drawn to overcome it readily and never stoppin' With the pedal to metal as I beat it from the devil's hands Try to be the unbelievable, yeah They try to stop us from believin' in a better day Well they gon' have a problem when the people say... CHORUS: Drop it for the new generation Walkin' with a new motivation And I'm gonna get it movin' for the dreamers & believers And I'm gonna get it movin' for the dreamers & believers Drop it for the new generation Walkin' with a new motivation And I'm gonna get it movin' for the dreamers & believers And I'm gonna get it movin' for the dreamers & believers VERSE 2: Life is full of lonely moments And I want to make em' proud Spend the rest of my life fightin' For the future of the crowd It's burnin' up inside of me Refuse to keep it down Yeah, this music comes alive With better worlds I dream about I wanna know if there's a conscience In our condescending populace Claimin' that we love our neighbors Richest livin' prosperous Blame our country's problems on the poorest & impoverished Drownin' as they try to stay afloat And you don't give a sh*t I get so sick of it Watch all the glass elevators Up and down in the bank towers Hand in hand with the regulators That's not my generation Rebels in the making With a fist to the sky if you believe that we can change it BRIDGE Cause I know that I can't justify not chasin' scars Blood, sweat, broken arms In the middle of a battle, gotta breathe a little deeper Cause you want a better future to believe in Yeah, I swear to God I'm gonna lose it If I ever meet the devils that are causin' peoples' ruin And I don't care I'll never stop, I'll never drop it I'll never change the way I rip it Cause I wanna start to change a generation No, I won't save it for later Cause I start it in a notebook And I finish with a fader sayin' Straight up I wanna raise up And I'm gonna break the chains off the beast Get lost in my dreams And I'll scream it And bleed it And breathe in the words on my teeth Yeah, the only thing that I believe in is...
1
Dreamers and Believers (Instrumental)
Instrumental
03:21
2
Dreamers and Believers (Clean Version)
Clean Version
03:21

Lyrics:

Too tired to wake up Too numb to lace up They play, think we giving up? Sea’s gonna change in a wave Better buckle up That’s us Rock rough Brave’s not enough, get a little scuffed up Gotta hit em’ high with a fist full of passion Bricks smash crooks when the truth takes action Strip luxe laughin’ With a middle class back on some cash party crashin’ Yeah, little robin hood action Jack up the track in a tear it up classic Runnin’ with the in quotes ‘thankless’ For the people getting’ sick of poundin’ pavement Take your sneakers to the streets Louder speakers rockin’ beats Change is everything when you’d do almost anything To make it so the better things can land upon the future When the bread and butter’s home, and the money’s outta pockets We can breathe as a people CHORUS: No we won’t run away from monsters Won’t believe a single thing they say No we won’t run away We’ll find out safety in catastrophe Singin’ goodbye and goodnight I’ll switch the lights out Wake up a new tide No we won’t run away from monsters I’ma switch all the lights out I’ma kick it with my sights out on the road VERSE 2: I swear that I’m never gonna trust em’ again Justified with a definite reason to bet That we’re livin’ in a switch More bitter than everything we’re given And it isn’t a stock dividend It’s a flick of the pen A lobby with slick kicks cashed out To evidently emanate elegance Elevate eloquence Never better I guess to test your anti-benevolence Here’s a premise, I’ma get a little venomous Money is a menacing experiment Wearin’ on our backs with a battle full of cash-strapped attacks (they battle for it all and no sharin’ it) You think you’re bearing the weight, none of our business? I think you’re tearing this place up for business I think you’re living to save face The same old criminal And yeah I mean to be critical BRIDGE Remember this I’m a fighter I’m a loud voice I’ma set it like a blazing fire So remember this I’m a fighter I’m loud voice I’ma set it like a blazing fire We wanna take on Fake snakes, all the crooks and the liars We are the brave ones, hey! Better yet I’ma get em’ inspired We wanna take on Fake snakes, all the crooks and the liars We are the brave ones, hey! Better yet I’ma get em’ inspired You better bet I’ma get em’ inspired No we won’t run away from monsters No we won’t run away…
1
Monsters (Instrumental)
Instrumental
03:34
3
03:48

Lyrics:

I call em’ outlaws Breathin’ with arrogance Leachin’ like bottomless pits and keepin’ everything They talk a lot and just kickin’ dirt in economies They hit the lotto, these people think they’re anomalies Run a damn analytic High stakes cheats on a credit limit Taking everything, wasting everything Waking up, we want a better living With a minimum wage Stagnating, scrape day-by-day Stop taking shit from these people I’ma sink my teeth in screamin’ We’re breathless, yeah we’re choking on a diamond necklace So desperate, gotta let em’ on a special kind of gettin’ reckless Gotta check this, not a bead of f*ckin’ doubt Ya’ll better write this down Breakin’ down the doors How’s that for a Trojan horse? Is anyone out there to set it off? Is anyone out there to set it off? Is anyone out there to set it off? Is anyone out there to start a revolution My people time to stand up, I’m tired of this place CHORUS: Yeah we gonna take it back (ha!) I’m thinkin’ yeah we gonna take it back Saddle in for battlin’ backstabbin’ promises Rattling the gravel and shattered glass on top of this place Yeah we gonna take it back (ha!) I’m thinkin’ yeah we gonna take it back Saddle in for battlin’ backstabbin’ promises Rattling the gravel and shattered glass on top of this place VERSE 2: Cast away on an ice flow Ice flow, watch the price go Up away like satellites go Hold the globe, hold my own yeah Resolute with a root to the new Revolution pursuit till it’s true Been a goon from womb to the Doomtree We do we till they’re spinnin’ the tunes Be fire, fury, it’s dire But never say die, heads stay high The dead don’t ask why (yeah) But we alive, yellin’ all rise To the corpses, piled on the sidelines (bye!) Crack the ice in my peace, rush off in a cold sleep BRIDGE Gonna rise up Feel a little bit like we’re climbin’ up Wising up, gone viral and stuck No more, just sizing up the truth Class war movin’ next store Better get ready for the tension to break Yep, it’s evident they took the kettle and they Crooks are never to blame, what a shame To the CEOs and the billionaires We in the parking lot Walkin’ on whether it’s dark or not Walkin’ on whether it’s dark or not Tossin’ rocks and it’s time to break Somethin’ off, bust and rattle the cage Our people gonna stand up and take it back We’re tired of this place
1
Outlaws (Instrumental)
Instrumental
03:47
2
Outlaws (Clean Version)
Clean Version
03:47
4
Sound Check (Explicit Lyrics) Beats | Voices | & | Loud Noises
04:29

Lyrics:

I make it epic Shock without the epinephrine Anaphylactic breathin', chemically Believe my words are weapons That's EPD Shout to the hometown bands I repped when I Started out in a band with a couple dudes Took a break, back and we on the loose Yeah, tough times In fact it was never 'bout aligning anything or anyone Who wanted more to life But organizing nothin' never brought about a change, man And I'm a changed man Up, up, up & away man (yeah) No time for a story Only glory flows to those who go with it So we're gonna get it right Scorching, glowing, only knowing Rest will show on its own damn time But until then, I'ma beast them I'ma treat them like the lying cheats they are Pickin' on the folks with the crumbs and repeatin' (yeah) Who's with me? Speech on the back of a beat with adrenal glands Schemin' as I keep it going, needle is my studio And maybe all I know is that I need it like a stuntman Attention everybody, this is not a test So put your f*ckin' hands up to the heavens It's a soundcheck CHORUS: (Hey! Hey!) Let's take a moment just to listen It's a bangin' higher definition sound breakin' (Hey! Hey!) With everything I'm on a mission with ambition, yeah I'ma chase it down and take it (Hey! Hey!) Let's take a moment just to listen It's a bangin' higher definition sound breakin' (Hey! Hey!) With everything I'm on a mission with ambition, yeah I'ma chase it down and take it VERSE 2: To the hopelessly hopeful Holding with a focus And molding a vocal dissonance Strippin’ this condition Now listen, this wicked system Is rippin’ up every inch in existence But I’m persistent with Givin’ it resistance as I Spit with venom Quick wit, get em’ Letter with aggression and it better upset em’ Yeah, nothin’ but a taste Gonna save a place For that somethin’ up my sleeve I said I’d never let em’ take, so This one’s for the broken And the burnin’ fever Built up in a moment Like a blown out speaker This one’s for the people Time to reawaken Everyone our moment’s here And we will not be shaken, so Call the operator, message gonna disconnect Call the doctor, tell em’ we are not a side effect Attention everybody, this is not a test So put your f*ckin’ hands up to the heavens It’s a soundcheck BRIDGE: I’m talkin’ madness with a method Bout that time I drop my secret weapon Gotta step with a recklessness Rep with a contentiousness Essence of my unpleasantness Stems from their damn pretentiousness And I bet I’ll never let it go Never rest till I’m home And I will never stop, never quit If I promise anything It’s that I’ma hit em’ where it hurts Kick dirt and leave em’ tremblin’ Lacing my element I wanna tell em now Ladies and gentlemen Pump that adrenaline Go.
1
Sound Check (Instrumental)
Instrumental
04:28
2
Sound Check (Clean Version)
Clean Version
04:29
5
04:21

Lyrics:

Yeah, let's go In with a bang Ready with the rope Raising up the flag Prove that the average can reach up and grab this Speak with a madness, spark like a matchstick Hold tight, people in the back Both hands up, clap to the crack of the snare Back with a passion to bear Steady like the plan said Stand with your fellow man Work hard Know you deserve this Stick with a goal and if there's one thing you'll learn, it's Don't stop, don't quit, don't sit and go get it Put your heart and soul in it, yeah Our time is fading, it's time for the waiting To drop off the radar, as we vindicate our Dreams like a chainsaw, cut off as they gnaw At doubt, despair Now shout and swear Chorus: We will never give up Cuz we can spark like a matchstick And sparks turn to fire We'll never give up Cuz we can spark like a matchstick And sparks turn to fire Verse 2: So let's head back to a bad place Packed with a pitch black grace to face Every little fear Equipped to tweak this peak technique And beat this weakness Yeah, I'm always speakin' in a reckless way Only sleepless when I'm sleepin' on a restless day Only freedom I believe in is the reason I've been keeping up at night and making beats instead of dreaming Hey, so let's bank on the worst odds Yeah, stand up for the underdog Let's take, every little darkness Light it with a spark, burn brighter than the sun It's our time to raise up and flip this Match lights, blaze with a witness That's right, taking's a business So disturbed, down with the sickness Bridge: It starts with A little bit of movement Little bit of progress Little revolution Dirty with a bruise, yet flirtin' with a new grit Workin' with a new bit, alertin' all the troops, yeah Light it up, little sparks little fire It'll fume up and burn a little brighter All I need is a room to ignite, yeah Spark like a matchstick, up like a lighter
1
Spark Like A Matchstick (Instrumental)
Instrumental
04:19
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