Describing themselves as "the best kept secret in Tampa for the last two years," From This Fire have a grungy, crunchy sound that's polished and catchy enough to draw comparisons to anything on mainstream modern rock radio.

Singer-guitarist Drew Bell, guitarist Ben Bowman, bassist Derek Fair and drummer Gabe Higgins have opened for Sick Puppies and others, and they're aiming for national attention with their self-titled debut CD, featuring Switchfoot-like thrashers like With You and Bitter Pill and ballads like You Never Know and Another Chance.

The band's sound has been compared to "Breaking Benjamin mixed with Metallica," Bell said. But Switchfoot is also a good point of comparison, both musically and with respect to the occasionally faith-based vein of their lyrics -- even though the guys don't consider From This Fire a Christian band.

"We write very much from life experiences, and if our faith gives us the opportunity to take a stand in our music, so be it," Bell said in an e-mail. "We have songs already on our debut album that are very strong in this, and others that are just about life experiences, whether it be sorrow, joy, happiness, difficulty, pain, love, anger, etc. .. If our music happens to make you think about what you believe or not believe, then that's a bonus. We just really hope to at least put out music you can crank up and rock to!"

The CD is out now, but they're officially celebrating the disc with The Stand, Sons of Vengeance and others on Saturday at the State Theatre in St. Pete. Tickets are $8-$10. Click here for details.

Photo by Mike Ossola.