Fight Before Surrender

Self Destruction

HM Album Reviews

Self Destruction

Review by

Fight Before Surrender has been bringing their brand of punk rock (which they’ve dubbed “hammerfist rock and roll”) out of Columbus, Ohio since 2003. The four-piece has persevered through various lineup changes to churn out two full-length albums and one EP before their latest offering, Self Destruction. It’s a fast-paced, heavily distorted record with the tone and ferocity of Motörhead and the street punk scowl of The Casualties.

The quartet’s punk mentality proves more than just a catchy moniker as the band’s lyrics reflect the virtues of standing up for your beliefs without backing down “Until Death.” Self Destruction proffers a warning of the world’s deterioration, consumption and it’s looming destruction, themes summed up in the final two tracks “Live Grenade” and “Apocalypse.” “Live Grenade” was previously released on the band’s 7” EP of the same name, and the outro of this rager resonates with a Morse code-type feedback and staticy news clips about riots, violence and protests before segueing into “Apocalypse,” which brings the album to a crashing close. Along with the title track, this is one of the heaviest and fastest on the album. The song bridges the track gap with “Live Grenade” featuring news snippets before the thrashy song continues with catchy, sing-a-long worthy repetitions of “It’s the apocalypse” and, “It’s the end / it’s the end / it’s the end of the world.”

Fight Before Surrender gives the listener great gang vocals to shout along with, plenty of speed, angst-driven instrument bashing and raw vocals packed with attitude. Musically, this album isn’t very complex, but it isn’t meant to be. Self Destruction is par for the course with what you’d expect in an aggressive punk rock record.

About the Author

Listen Now

More News from HM Magazine