While mainstream music remains focused on commercialisation and being addicted to its own past, throughout its rich history hardcore and its aligning genres have remained some semblance of identity and expression. Its aggressive and fast nature has caused it not yet fully accepted by society. However remaining in the underground it has allowed the genre to explore themes and issues that remain unsaid with passion and integrity. Looking to carry this torch is Cage Fight, who with debut single “Hope Castrated” showed that they are out for blood with the relenting thrash-fused-hardcore sound.
Their debut self-titled quickly outlines what the record is going to address with its sampling of speeches against authoritarianism, violence against women and economical and societal injustice. There are no hiding any of these overarching themes, with track “Guillotine” offering up an ideal solution to some of the problems afflicting society currently, “I’ve got a motherfucking gulliotine, it’s the remedy know what I mean?”. Day-to-day realities are confronted in tracks “Respect Ends” and “Tell Me What Real Is“, with the former addressing vocalist Rachel Aspe’s experiences with harassment from men in the real world and online. The latter exploring the world the right-wing has built up and the conspiracy theories that have come with it, directly calling out “From Bitchute to Breitbart“.
Threaded within this are tracks focusing on self-integrity and introspection, with closer “My Dreams” doing this immaculately while wrapped in 00s-esque metal riffs. The way Cage Fight have written these lyrics and performed them feels grounded, experienced and thoughtful. Some records can fall into the trap of being impulsive with their messaging which can leave a sense of immaturity. Given the topics at hand, there is an added importance and there is plenty of credit to be given to Cage Fight at how well they’ve pieced them together.
A message to have a real impact needs a stronger messenger, leading the charge is vocalist Rachel Aspe who has one of the standout performances of the year so far on this record. The impassioned performance shows of Aspe’s incredible range, seamlessly transitioning between crushing lows and eyebrow-raising highs. Towards the record’s closing stages when it seems Aspe has given her all, huge pig squeal vocals are thrown into mix which shakes the track up.
What backs her instrumentally is just as impressive, with James Monteith (also of prog metal titans TesseracT) delivering some scintillating riffs throughout the record. Alongside him is bassist Jon Reid who gives these riffs extra punch and matches his counterpart when it comes to ability. On the track “Killer“, the shredding riffs and catchy drum grooves delivered by Nick Plews make for a track that is difficult to not at least tap along to. Throughout the record it yearns to be heard in a live setting, whether its the lyricism being screamed back through a passed mic or the brutal breakdowns that would see limbs fly in a pit. When these moments hit on tracks such as “One Minute” or “Make A Decision” is when Cage Fight ascends the confines of a studio recording into the imagination of hearing it in a live setting.
It’s difficult not to venerate what Cage Fight have done here with their debut record. With their hardcore sound fitting their direct and forthright messaging and attitude, blending it with thrash and death metal influences to bring in a varied sound across the fourteen tracks. These tracks take a stand against the atrocities in our society, providing much needed catharsis, but more pertinently, empowerment, when both can be difficult to come by these days. With their debut record, Cage Fight will hopefully go on to capture the hearts and minds of audiences across the UK with their crushing sound and their ardent lyricism.
8.5/10
Cage Fight will release their self-titled album on May 13th via Candlelight Records and Spinefarm UK, and can be pre-ordered here.