Title Fight took their music to a new level this Tuesday after the release of their new album Hyperview. Since releasing their first album with SideOne Dummy Records in 2011, this band has always helped fans relinquish their inner angst with those up-in-your-face metal vocals, fast drums, and goosebump-forming guitar and bass solos similar to bands like Touche Amore, Pianos Become Teeth, and Tigers Jaw (but just a wee bit more hardcore).
However with this new album, Title Fight dropped their emo-punk-metal act to give their fans a mix of the past and present. Within 10 songs, TF brings forth 90’s grunge-inspired music with an insanely large helping of vocal reverb to stir an indie-influenced texture into their new and improved sound.
The album starts off with the song “Chlorine,” a more modern rock ballad. Immediately within the first few seconds, Modest Mouse came to mind, as the guitar sent the song off into happening. As a whole, there was not one instrument that truly stood out. Except of course for Jamie Rhoden’s super reverb-y vocals.
After listening to a few more songs, “Mrahc” really caught my attention. An upbeat tempo with a few major key changes shows Title Fights new style starting to seep into play. Ben Russin’s drum skills, accompanied by Shane Moran’s guitar ingenuity, helped me realize just how grungy the music had become. With this song, you truly get to hear an artist’s maturation.
Immediately after “Mhrac” plays “Your Pain is Mine Now.” Here Title Fight really encompasses their emo side, but with a more universal touch. With consistent flange-sounding material, the acoustic guitar is played so eloquently that it could almost be mistaken for a piano.
However, it isn’t until I heard “Trace Me onto you” that I became impressed. As the two-step drum tempo sets off, the music becomes progressively faster as the lyrics become more clear through the music. Title Fight has never lacked poetic value, but they have truly done a number on this one.
Regardless of such change, Title Fight unfortunately could lose some fans with this album. Every song was conceptually the same, with minor tempo changes as well as melodies. The drums and guitar were grungy while the vocals were indie… in every song. However, Ned Russian should win some sort of bass award. Whenever his bass parts were highlighted, the song was immediately redeemed from any lackluster.
Title Fight is still Title Fight, but I think they should stick to the previous metal rage they were known for.
3/5