This is a split in the truest sense of the word. While Fighting Shit are an Icelandic band playing a particularly abrasive brand of hardcore, Dead After School take the more melodic route and enjoy much more success. FS’s five tracks just blend into one another, except for the needless buildup of ‘The Boiling Point’ and even though they’re obviously very fast and heavy, there seems to be very little personality or indeed point. If thrashing about with no recognisable direction or structure is your thing then you might just have found your next favourite band.
But flick through to the Dead After School and you’re in for a treat. They’re a hardcore band that is comfortable with lashings of melody and anthemic choruses that provide as many answers as they do questions. ‘Together’ and ‘This Place Is Rad’ come off as genuinely inspiring songs that succeed because of their honesty and zest. You’d be hard pushed to find another band that could pack their songs with as much emotion and not appear hackneyed or clichéd. Basically, it’s impossible to listen to DAS without raising the trusty index finger and having a good old point. And sure that’s the point of it?
It’s good that Cat n Cakey have brought Dead After School to prominence, because they’re a band that could grow and grow if given enough exposure. Just like When All Else Fails (sadly now RIP) and Farewell To Arms before them, they’re an intensely positive band that are bucking the trend of moaning about shit and instead providing an actual release by focussing on things that make a difference. Well worth a boost.
Ben
www.catncakeyrecords.com