CITY OF FIRE Putting Finishing Touches On Sophomore Album

CITY OF FIRE, the band featuring Burton C. Bell (FEAR FACTORY),bassist Byron Stroud (FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD),guitarist Terry "Sho" Murray, and drummer Bob Wagner, entered The Factory studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in September to begin recording material for its sophomore album, entitled "Trial Through Fire".

Check out photos from the studio at this location.

In a recent interview with The Sanctuary Of Rock, Bell stated about CITY OF FIRE's forthcoming CD, "The writing process is very similar to other bands. The guys had music ideas and were recorded on a demo. I would sit with Terry in the studio and just sing out ideas. I usually have some words to 'throw down' and I try to incorporate them into the song. A lot of times, I just say things that come out, like speaking in tongues.

"There is no theme, but everything we were writing about was happening in our lives, so that is why we call the album 'Trial Through Fire'.

"It was a very difficult writing process. We were all going through personal issues, and also the band was dealing with business issues.

"I am very proud of the work we have done. We 'found' our sound on this record.

"Terry has been the main producer and he just finished cleaning up the tracks so that Greg Reely can begin mixing the album. The record is just about finished. All the recording is done, just the mixing and mastering is left."

He added, "The main difference [between the recording process for 'Trial Through Fire' compared to that of CITY OF FIRE's 2010 self-titled debut] was that we knew what we wanted to achieve. We knew what are strong points were with the band's music. We all had a great understanding of the band itself. Terry has a great sense of what my voice can do, so he and the guys were able to write the music that suited everyone. We were very 'cohesive' as a band. We knew everyone's strong points."

CITY OF FIRE recently shot a video for one of its new songs in Toronto with director Cody Calahan, who previously co-created, produced and directed a pilot for a television show called "The Rusty Kitchen".

Said Burton: "The video was created through the program MuchMusic in Canada it is Canada's MTV. Every year, they give grants to new bands to make a video. We applied and got the grant. The video was made through all Canadian videographers, directors etc. MuchMusic has the video, but I am not certain when they are going to show it. I think it is soon.

"It was the first time I met Cody Calahan, and I look forward to working with him again. He is very ambitious and I like his creative ideas."

Funding for the new CITY OF FIRE CD was aided by the PledgeMusic.com project, which encourages fans to contribute funds to the recording of albums and the artists themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.

Said Burton: "That was our [manager's idea]. She found success in it with another band she has worked with. It was a fantastic idea. Not only did it generate the funds we needed, it also created a grass-roots fan base that is important for a new band. It created a personal network between the band and our new fans, and they are a very happy, as we are."