Fightstar

Read more on Fightstar

Release Date: Aug 11
Label: Institute
Rating: (7)

Only time will tell, we suppose, if there’s a market for a Fightstar B-sides and rarities compilation. Things like this often seem to get in the way, slowing a band’s momentum and suggesting that ideas are rather thin on the ground. Fortunately, for Fightstar, ‘Alternate Endings’ feels more like a useful stock take at this stage in their career, two and a half albums in, and the strength of the majority of these songs proves that they’ve got creative ideas to burn. While there are the requisite acoustic versions of some of the band’s biggest songs (‘Floods’, ‘99’ and ‘Minerva’), which are pretty but a little superfluous, Fightstar unveil several cracking, crunching B-sides here, including ‘Nerv/Seele’ and the excellent ‘Dark Star’, which itself would have made a potent single. This strength in depth is staggering if you’ve previously ignored the band’s singles. What’s more, there’s the superb early-cut ‘Amethyst’ off their debut mini-album, and brand new track ‘Where’s The Money Lebowski?’, which hints at a monumental new album around the corner. The Flaming Lips, The Cure and Judas Priest covers are decent but pointless in the grand scheme of things, diverting attention from the important message here: Fightstar are bursting with ideas and on an upwards trajectory.

FOR FANS OF: Deftones and Fightstar, mainly…




Mike Haydock

Fightstar MySpace

Fightstar Official

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