It was sheer serendipity that brought The Fight to the attention of Fat Wreck Chords, and now that they’ve joined the stable, the punk community should welcome them with open arms.
Home Is Where the Heart Is is the English quartet’s debut, a seven song EP that’s a glorious trip back into old school stylings, but fueled by new school sensibilities. Penetration springs instantly to mind as a comparison, but that’s mostly because The Fight are also female fronted by a woman who actually sings; no growling, shouting or twee whining here.
There’s a bit of harmony around the sing-along choruses, but this is really K8′s show, who doubles as lead guitarist, tossing on the occasional straight-forward guitar solo. However, like Generation X, The Fight are chord driven, their music filled with lashings of fast and furious riffs, and with “Stage Skool Kids” the band even unleash the spiky, reggae tinged guitar rhythms beloved of the early Clash.
The Fight are at their best when addressing universal youth themes, providing another link with the past. “Blank Generation’s discontent is echoed in their anthemic “Forgotten Generation”, “Bored Teenagers” hopeless ennui is seen through the contemporary jaded view of the equally crucial title track, “Your Generation” is replaced by their own clamoring cry of “Revolution Calling”.
A brilliant kick off for a bunch of small town teens, whose future looks anything but dim. – Jo-Ann Greene