Detroit's Holy Fire began in 2003 with a casual, mostly acoustic collaboration between drummer Nick Marko and vocalist/guitarist Sean Hoen. But the band found its true direction in the heightened volume of Hoen's electric guitar, and the addition of bassist Nathan Miller and guitarist Dan Skiver solidified the sound. (Miller and Hoen were veterans of the late/great Detroit-area deathcore unit Thoughts of Ionesco.) By early 2004 the Holy Fire were recording their debut EP in Toronto, and honing their vibrant mixture of shimmering melody and darkly literate post-punk texture. Skiver exited upon completion of the sessions, but guitarist Ryan Wilson joined in time for the group's spring 2004 live debut. Local response to the quartet was strong, and to capitalize the self-titled Toronto EP was reissued. By the year's end the Holy Fire were back in the studio for a session with the Flaming Lips' Michael Ivins in the producer's chair. More recording with Ivins followed in 2005, this time at Tarbox in upstate New York. The Holy Fire continued their steady live schedule through that summer. In January 2006, the band signed with SoCal indie imprint The Militia Group and released their second EP, In the Name of the World. ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi
