MASSEMORD / THE FRONT / VALDUR
3-Way Split
(BlackMetal.com)

FUNEBRARUM
The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
(Cyclone Empire)

EASPA MEASA / SILENCE
Split
(Acclaim / Sadness of Noise)

BURMESE
Monkeys Tear Man to Shreds, Man Never Forgives Ape, Man Destroys Environment
(Enterruption)

CONSTANTS
The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension
(The Mylene Sheath)

AMBASSADOR GUN
When in Hell

(Pangea)

DUSTED ANGEL
7"

(Corrupt Rcordings)

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Now that most of the grunge stains have been washed off, the principles of sludge are all the more prevalent and the idiosyncrasy of noise punk is apparently gaining ground. At least as far as the new Fight Amp record is concerned.  Long gone are those traces of dated Seattle rock that to a degree seemed to refresh an abused formula. Now, Fight Amp sound like a different horde, one that in parts sounds similar to the humid sounds of Kylesa, but that by the absence of such a fat barrage of drums and the absolutely belligerent vocals retains an authentic  identity that can’t be claimed by anybody.  One where angularity is masked only by the girth of distortion.

The vocals are yeah, mmhh, kinda belligerent. Vocalizing screams that don’t get in the way of memorability or bother with much of a melody. It’s a punk attitude that reflects Fight Amp’s warrior approach to music. And there is a visceral aspect to their music that is more accurately represented in the vocals than in the music. In “Bad Listener II” we actually get the closest this band can get to a chorus, but that amounts to a couple of voices repeating a couple of lines over and over. All in the midst of diminishing music. Believe me, it sounds better than it reads. 

The songs, sans vocals, are a different animal and you got to listen to the music separately to understand why the vocals come in the format that they come. When I mentioned the word 'angular' in the previous paragraph I fucking meant it.  But there are no Wire-like 45 degree angle curves here, just a relentless amorphous beat and riffs. Lots of riffs. Of the Amp Rep kind. The kind that seem effervescent and get you all pumped up, but that as soon as they are over with you are just left with the feeling and not the faintest idea of how they went. Actually, parts of “Half a Holiday” got into catchy territory. Catchier than anything that came out in that venerable label. And just as acerbic. Yes, that’s right. Acerbic.

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