Fightstar
Heaven, London
“Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad!… You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’” The famous words from the classic 1976 film Network are surely totally unknown to this crowd of befringed teenagers massed under a Victorian railway arch; nevertheless, Fightstar have it played over the sound system while preparing to take the stage, and it doesn’t dent their enthusiasm. This kind of respectful nod to works of authority, while remaining resolutely in crowd-pleasing territory, is what Fightstar do best.
Tribune readers who know frontman Charlie Simpson from his days in boy band Busted will know that he has come a long way from playing pop songs in a boy band. So keen are Fightstar on referencing post-rock, post-metal and other esoteric tastes in their work (think Deftones, Explosions in the Sky and maybe even Million Dead) that any description of their music seriously risks overuse of the words “melodic”, “hardcore” and “multi-layered”. So I won’t try.
Next month sees the release of a deluxe edition of Be Human, Fightstar’s third and latest album released to critical approval last year. The original was a fine piece of work, an ambitious production involving orchestral parts and a full choir that managed to be triumphant and tender in about equal measure. Now it’s back with an added DVD of music videos and five extra tracks. The new material isn’t bad, and some of it is great, like ‘Mvua Nyeusi’ and the anthemic ‘It’s Blood Is Back’, which could teach the cast of Glee a thing or two. Tribune readers may enjoy the cover art, which depicts the suited band members walking, Reservoir Dogs-style, past a ruined City of London and a blazing Gherkin. Fans should buy it – and hurry, since only 5,000 copies are being pressed.
Back at the gig, and anti-capitalist notions are swapped for anti-war ones as Fightstar launch into ‘War Machine’, the first of five songs all on the latest release. It’s clear Fightstar like their latest work best, with its metallic edges and varied tonal palette. It comes off competently, as do ‘Colours Bleed To Red’ and ‘The English Way’; but it’s only when they launch into ‘A City on Fire’ that they are firing on all cylinders, guitars, vocals and drums working in harmony. What is arguably the weakest new track on the album turns into one of the strongest of the concert – and in a good way.
A bass-raunchy ‘Build An Army’ follows a chord-jangling ‘Mercury Summer’. Simpson’s energy is now boundless and his voice improved – just as well, because both those qualities save a following song, ‘We Apologise for Nothing’, from mediocrity. Even bulky Omar looks about to take off from his drum kit. Charlie demands the crowd “lose their shit” for ‘Deathcar’ and turns the bitterly personal breakup song, including the screamed line “you make me fucking sick”, into a celebration.
The gig ends after Simpson orders the crowd to mosh each other senseless. Not quite: there’s a Deftones cover, a typical Fightstar coda, as if to remind people of their higher aspirations. Heaven’s dreadful acoustics haven’t served Fightstar well; happily, their talent for rock anthems shines through. It won’t lose Mogwai any sales, but Fightstar are a damn sight more popular. Which is probably the point.
René Lavanchy
Be Human: Deluxe Edition CD/DVD is released on 1 March
