You've left a trail of red and crossed it on your front door

Listening to: Fightstar // One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours [ALBUM]

Unarguably, one of the best albums I have heard in ages. Fightstar never fail to impress me. I love how they're able to amaze me every time I listen to their music. Also, I greatly admire their frontman Charlie Simpson of ex-Busted fame for sticking to what he believes in and not succumbing to the pressures that the music industry is able to impose upon a musician. I mean, the man literally "tore up his contract" with Island Records after the big shot music moguls told the band to write more pop-oriented songs. That is something definitely worth emulating.

After having been slammed by music critics before their debut, they shocked the public with their stunning album, "Grand Unification". Thanks to that album, they were heralded as "stunning post hardcore" by popular rock magazine Kerrang and Charlie Simpson finally managed to shed his former boy band image for a more serious and darker one.

Their sophomore effort "One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours" is undeniably an amazing piece of work complete with Simpson's signature husky vocals and Alex Westaway's falsettos. The album practically screams for you to listen to it with its beautiful album art.

The radio-friendly first single from the album "We Apologize For Nothing" has a catchy bridge that transitions smoothly to an even catchier chorus that is reminiscent of anthems about maintaining ones integrity and not conforming to the norm.

The song "Floods" begins with a beautiful piano melody and the crushing guitar riffs that follow adds some depth and shows how smoothly Fightstar are able to jump back and forth from piano to guitar. The emotions in this song are clearly heard as Simpson sings "to make the floods seem still".

One of the heaviest songs ever produced by the band, "Deathcar" starts off with Simpson gasping for air and follows up with an onslaught of guitars and tormenting screams. It then effortlessly switches to a crooning bridge and chorus before unleashing the guitars and screams once more. The lyrics for the chorus and verses are a stark contrast to each other. For instance, the verses seem to be filled with extreme rage due to it containing lyrics about torture. But, the chorus sounds more melancholic and sad, rather than the former.

"You & I" is another track that shows off Westaway's and Simpson's ability to vocalize harmoniously. But, Westaway's vocals evidently overshadows that of Simpson's and shows how much he has to offer as a vocalist. Bassist Dan Haigh's deep and resounding bass lines add a little something. Also, the track boasts one of the deepest lyrics on the album along with the song "Amaze Me".

Omar Abidin's percussions for "Tannhäuser Gate" showcases the best drumming on the album. Again, the vocals for the song are amazing as Simpson and Westaway both use falsettos for half of the song. Simpson's heart wrenching screams during the chorus and towards the end of the track are further highlighted by the heavy guitars and heavy percussions.

The album then ends with a twist due to the song "Unfamiliar Ceilings". The song features Simpson's actual demo recordings and the rawness of the song makes it all the more appealing. Listening to the lines "We need each other like flower pots and dirt, for seven years we've spent growing from the earth.", it seems to be a song Simpson wrote to his ex-girlfriend of 7 years. Clearly, it is a track that is close to Simpson's heart and it is evident when he sings. The presence of The Rentals female bassist Rachel Haden's haunting vocals add to the overall emotion and feel of the song.

This album is a clear example of how much Fightstar have evolved as musicians and displays a level of maturity that is capable of breaking so many barriers. This only shows how much this band is capable of doing and I am eagerly anticipating for more albums like these in the future.
So, if you don't have it, find it. Because it is absolutely worth the effort.

Yes, I am a rather dismal reviewer. I can never find the words to explain what I really feel. BUT, you shall listen to me because I am the all knowing sage of chocolate cupcakes.

RATING: 4.5/5
Recommended: 99, We Apologise For Nothing, Floods, Deathcar, You & I, Unfamiliar Ceilings

Tracklisting:
1. 99
2. We Apologise For Nothing
3. Floods
4. One Day Son
5. Deathcar
6. I Am The Message
7. You & I
8. Amaze Us
9. H.I.P (Enough)
10. Tannhauser Gate
11. Our Last Common Ancestor
12. Unfamiliar Ceilings