i’m so psyched that title fight is a modern band that’s this great, and at the same time, i’m so disappointed i discovered them too late. floral green is the second studio album by the kingston-based post-hardcore band title fight, released in 2012.
when i think of head-banging, intense, and riff-driven rock a la yank crime, i think of this album. while this album isn’t as heavy as yank crime, it, for the most part, speeds at a good 150 miles per hour. most of the songs on this album are sung by bassist ned russin, who handles the more aggressive and dominant vocals, and the music usually matches that. “Numb, But I Still Feel It” is a killer, high-octane opener that’s matched perfectly by its follow-up, “Leaf“. the other intense, squarely punk songs on this album are all good in their own right, but are not as memorable as the first two.
can i just say i love some of the transitions between songs on this album? especially the transition between “Head In the Ceiling Fan” and “Make You Cry“- where the ethereal “Head In the Ceiling Fan” ends by playing a shoegaze-style version of the riff in the more punk “Make You Cry”.
which brings me to the other side of this album- and not the b side, i mean the more abstract part of this album. this is where i think title fight really shines, setting it apart from other post-hardcore bands- when it becomes melodic, lonely, and transcendent. fittingly, guitarist jamie rhoden sings more gentle vocals in these songs, perfectly demonstrated by “In-Between“. in these songs, the lyrics are a little more introspective, the guitars more expansive, without really being dreamy shoegaze: it’s a rare, successful cross between post-hardcore and shoegaze.
as for highlights, “Lefty” is the perfect fusion between title fight’s punk sensibilities, with an intense verse and a melancholic chorus. “Head In the Ceiling Fan”, which I already reviewed here, just makes you feel like you’re floating. and “Numb, But I Still Feel It” is probably my favorite out of the more aggressive parts of this album, being both frustrated and cathartic all at once. i feel like this album could’ve been a little longer, some sounds could’ve been more explored, but it packs a lot in a short running time of 33 minutes. overall? a solid 8/10! (yes, i’m adding ratings now.)
tracklist:
q-street 