Fist Fight In The Parking Lot: Fist Fight In The Parking Lot

It isn't easy for bands to find a new angle these days. Silly costumes, face paint, fire-bombs, pissing on manager's desks, destroying the offices of magazines that don't give out good reviews, it's all been done. So for Fist Fight In The Parking lot it is bloodied faces and tales of hatred between the band members. Nothing wrong with any of that, but considering that this self titled debut effort from Pittsburgh is a better than average effort, it is a shame that they felt the need for the pantomime. However if it gets this tight as hell four-piece a bit more attention, then their chunky fat riffs and gritty rockin' attitude should be enough to take it from there.

Sporting a strong mix of straight up rock/metal, tied to the rolling riffs of the more commercial side of stoner rock, the nine tracks on this first (of many hopefully) album sting with intensity. Leaving you smarting as though it was you who'd taken the beating that it would appear was, judging by the promo shots, handed out to the foursome of Johnnie McCallough (bass), Jason Sichi (guitar), Chris Ruane (drums) and Abby Krizner (vocals). "S&M" doesn't mess about, hurtling out of the speakers at full velocity and apart from the fact that it's refreshing to listen to a CD that doesn't feel the need to have a pointless two or three minutes introduction, this really is how to start an album. Foot to the throttle, no mucking about, this is what we're all about. Have Fist Fight played their ace too early...? Not a bit of it with the handclapping groovefest that is "Make Progress, Walk Away" swaggering and strutting uncontrollably, even if the chorus crackles with a less serious, but even more addictive side of madness.

With their point proved, FFITPL then go about reinforcing their catchy, insistent, brutish attack through snarly clean vocals from Krizner and grappling guitars from Sichi. A female fronting a rock band isn't the novelty it used to be, but in this case Krizner is here because she can belt out the slower "Blue Jesus" with power and precision, while hurtling through "Three Legged Duck" with a breathless urgency her male counterparts would struggle to match. This young lady is a serious weapon in fist-fight's armoury!

Cleverly this debut effort is kept reasonably short and sharp, with nine mid-lengthed songs sating your appetite for big ballsy guitars, while still leaving you hankering for more. Accusations that things get a little samey towards the end of the album may not be a million miles from the truth, but a forceful, infectious aggression and attitude carries "Dr. Ugula" and "Sloth" through without your attention ever waning.

It is fitting that Fist Fight In The Parking Lot are battered and bruised in the CD booklet to this album, as it is exactly how you'll feel after an encounter with this band's debut effort. But it won't stop you coming back for more!

Track Listing
1. S&M
2. Make Progress, Walk Away
3. Side Steppin' Ninja
4. The Lone Gunman
5. Eternal Embrace
6. Three Legged Duck
7. Dr. Ugula
8. Sloth
9. Blue Jesus

Added: February 1st 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Fist Fight In The Parking Lot Online
Hits: 2084
Language: english

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