Sunday 13 January 2013

Fight Amp - "Birth Control" (Album Review)

By: Richard Powley

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 25/9/2012
Label: Translation Loss
 


Their blend of Noise-Rock and Sludge is both hard hitting and atmospheric in equal measure , with just enough ragers to keep energy levels high throughout its running time. Highly recommended to any fans of Torche, Black Elk, the Jesus Lizard and Unsane, these guys have just put out a top class album.


“Birth Control” CD//DD//LP Track Listing

1) Fly Trap (5:27)
2) White Pickett (4:35)
3) Creepy Kicks (4:45)
4) Should've Worn Black (8:30)
5) Shallow Grave (3:44)
6) Goner (5:37)
7) I'm Out (2:53)
8) I Am The Corpse (7:11)

  
Fight Amp is

Mike McGinnis
Jon DeHart
Dan Smith

The Review

With their latest album, Fight Amp continue to carve a music path that comfortably combines Torche's sense of melody, Unsane’s unrestrained nihilism and the Melvins complex crushing.

Opening with “Fly Trap”, one of the most noticeable things is the improved drum work, propelling the song through its many changes like a hyper speed Dale Crover, this first track demonstrates one of the albums strongest points, in that no one riff or section outstays its welcome, and an ever changing song structure keeps the album feeling fresh and vibrant.

The first half of the album runs through a wealth of atmospheres, from sadistic pummelling White Picket”, atmospheric sludge workouts Creepy Kicks and culminating in the 8 and half minute epic “Should’ve Worn Black” that treads a slower path than the first tracks and ends with an eerie, haunting piano refrain.

“Shallow Grave” kicks off the second half with perhaps the albums most straight forward rocker, leading into the mammoth grooves of “Goner”, the albums sole instrumental track and a minute journey through thick noise rock influenced sludge.  Mysteriously titled “I Am The Corpse” ends the album in stunning fashion, with a foreboding atmosphere reminiscent of Black Elk merging with a more punk influenced chorus.

As a new convert to Fight Amp, this was a fantastic introduction to the band, their blend of Noise-Rock and Sludge is both hard hitting and atmospheric in equal measure , with just enough ragers to keep energy levels high throughout its running time. Highly recommended to any fans of Torche, Black Elk, the Jesus Lizard and Unsane, these guys have just put out a top class album.

“Birth Control” is available here

FFO: Black Elk, The Jesus Lizard, Unsane, Torche

Band info: Facebook | Bandcamp