A new signing to Fat Wreck, Smoke or Fire have a mature, heavy take on punk rock that’s more Leatherface than Lagwagon, and their debut album is an impressive collection of abrasive songs that not only suggest a great deal of potential, but that they’re well on the way to becoming as revered as, say, Hot Water Music or Face To Face.
Opener ‘California’s Burning’ and ‘Filter’ are both powerful punk rock tracks that straddle the boundary between hardcore aggression and big melody, showing that Smoke or Fire are more than comfortable playing at high speeds. ‘Culture As Given‘ is another example of the band putting out a a vibrantly heavy song with an anthemic quality that characterises Above The City. It’s not hugely original at all, but is one of the most effective examples of a punk rock album to have come from the States in the last year or so. It’s all gang vocals and grab-your-mate-and-lets-talk-about-the-old-times choruses, designed to be listened to under the influence of more than a few pints of lager from some crappy pub.
But is all that really enough? Granted, it is a strong album, without any notably bad tracks (apart from the painful ‘Cryin’ Shame’), but it’s not all that special either. I’m not expecting it to be another Punk In Drublic or Mute Print, and for a debut it is remarkably assured, but it’s not going to set the world on fire (no pun intended). It’s streets ahead of all the disgustingly contrived emo-inflected pop punk that pollutes our ears, and signals the arrival of a promising new band on the scene, but unless it’s adopted into the traditional Fat stable I can’t see it doing that well. And that’s what’s weird about it – Smoke or Fire aren’t a Fat band circa 1999, and they’re a hell of a lot better than The Epoxies, so what’s their future?
The bottom line is that Above The City is a solid début album that deserves to win this young band enough respect to let them work on a follow-up. Not only for fans of throaty punk rock, but also for anyone despairing of the plastic shite that threatens to swallow us all, and for making an honest and punchy album, Smoke or Fire should be commended.
Ben
www.smokeorfire.com
www.fatwreck.com