About two or three weeks ago I wrote a pretty lengthy review of this and was about to post it when it mysteriously disappeared. Infact I thought I had posted it until Dan from FOE Records got in touch to ask where the review was. Hmmm. Anyway, here is a slightly shortened version than the original, but hopefully I shall be able to convey the main points. Day of the Fight formed in 2002 and originate from the Isle of Wight. They proclaim to be influenced by bands such as No Motiv and Samiam and, to be fair, these comparisons are pretty much true. The guitars drive and the vocals are energetic; they’re emotional rather than emo, if that makes sense.
‘Modern Rock Hall of Fame’ is a decent first album – there are some misses but it mainly hits the spot, especially once you pass the first couple of songs. Opener ‘the start over season’ doesn’t really get me going, but by the time ‘to forgive’ and ‘no sleep til braunston’ kick in, the band are in full flow. I’m a big No Motiv fan, and while those guys are perhaps more melodic, the song structures here do bear a resemblence. What does stand out is that this record was completed in a DIY fashion from start to finish – they recorded it at a youth club and then mixed it themselves, albeit with a little help from their friends. Joe from Jets vs Sharks finished the art and then it was released by the new FOE imprint, which was only set up to release this album. Bearing all that in mind, it’s worth noting how good the final product looks and sounds. Day of the Fight won’t change your world, but they certainly pack a punch and will be well worth checking out if they visit your town this summer.
www.dayofthefight.co.uk
FOE Recs
Paul