Throw the Fight - In Pursuit of Tomorrow
Record Label: Cordless Recordings
Release Date: June 24, 2008
After being voted as Hometown Heroes in Alternative Press back in 2006, Minneapolis quintet Throw The Fight have been hard at work trying to get to the next level. In a way they've gotten their wish because two years later the band is certainly signed and they've finally got a full length out. Titled In Pursuit of Tomorrow, it features a batch of tunes filled with melodic vocals, occasional screams, slick production, and metallic riffs similar to the tunes that shook up the mainstream back in 2003 via Page Avenue.
The highlight is the fact that this band can truly write explosive choruses. Nearly every song is just begging to be sung along with and will be stuck in your head for days. Take "It's For You", a power ballad perfect for the radio, as an example. Constantly repeated, front man James Clark croons "A bullet for me and a rose for you/ I'm falling apart tell me what to do" and trust me, you'll be humming it for longer than you want. Kind of like how you couldn't get the chorus from "Anthem of Our Dying Day" by Story of the Year out of your head.
Most of the songs are a little heavier and better suited for the pit than that one however they never lose their melody. "Stop Yourself" showcases how well James Clark can sing and alternate between bellowing harsh screams. Guitarists Joey Ulrich and Ryan Baustert can also really shred over the rapid fire drumming and on "Into the Fire," you'll be head banging along for sure.
The only real downside is the lyrics which are ridiculously cheesy. If you're able to focus on the superb melodies and tune out the fact that the lyrics are about broken hearts, knives, blood, death, and slit wrists, then it'll be a lot more enjoyable. If you're not looking for something over-stimulating, just something fun to listen to then Throw the Fight are certainly recommended because while they aren't original, they can write a better hook compared to a lot of whats out there right now.