hard rock

Memphis May Fire

1 festival played →

Long-running Texas metalcore outfit fronted by Matty Mullins, pairing breakdowns with unapologetically big clean choruses — durability in a genre that chews bands up.

Memphis May Fire started in 2006 in Denton, Texas, founded by vocalist Chase Ryan, guitarist Ryan Bentley and bassist Tanner Oakes, initially performing under the name Oh Captain, My Captain before settling on their current name in early 2007. A self-released EP built a local following and caught the attention of Trustkill Records, which signed the band later that year.

During sessions for the debut album, Chase Ryan left the band along with its drummer, and open auditions were held for a replacement. Matty Mullins was brought in to record vocals over instrumental tracks the band had already finished with producer Casey Bates. The result, Sleepwalking, came out in 2009 on Trustkill Records, and its song "Ghost in the Mirror" appeared on the soundtrack to Saw VI.

Their approach pairs heavy riffing and screamed passages with melodic, hook-driven clean choruses, a combination that placed them alongside the wave of American metalcore acts that emerged in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Memphis May Fire is now signed to Rise Records, with Mullins fronting a lineup of guitarist Kellen McGregor, bassist Cory Elder and drummer Jake Garland. The band has released seven studio albums and two EPs. Their fourth album, Unconditional, reached number four on the Billboard 200 and topped the Alternative Albums chart, the commercial high point of a long-running career.

Read more

hard rock