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 Hate 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
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 singalong choruses, but this is really
K8
's show, who doubles as lead guitarist, tossing in the occasional straightforward guitar solo. However, like
Generation X
,
are chord-driven, their music filled with lashings of fast and furious riffs, and with "Stage Skool Kids" the band even unleashes 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 kickoff for a bunch of small-town teens, whose future looks anything but dim. ~ Jo-Ann Greene