media about the fightbacks
record reviews
the fightbacks - "crybaby ep" - mrr #198 "Lo-fi Hardcore with good melodies and teen angst lyrics. Pretty good but nothing too exciting."
the fightbacks - "end of an era" - mrr#211 "Luckily this doesn't seem to be the last will and testament of the FIGHTBACKS who proudly wear their fellow Illinois influence. Yes, sounding like a blend of Slapstick, Screeching Weasel, and the Bollweevils, the FIGHTBACKS deliver a knockout snotty punk CD with the occasional horn. Let's hear it for the best damn place place in the whole midwest, Illinois. (JF)"
the fightbacks - "end of an era" - summers over #5 "These kids cross the line between pop-punk and punk rock, turn around, crumple the line into a little ball, piss on it, and set it on fire. Wow. Truly powerfu, and genuinely amazing. They even bring in a horn section for a couple tracks. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love this album. (Mitch)
the fightbacks - "end of an era" - rockzone.com "This album is a fun album to listen to. It’s very straight-ahead punk with a crust edge to it. The sound on this album reminds me of the punk numbers done by Operation Ivy. The vocals are raspy and the guitar tone is very similar. Don’t expect another ska band here though, because there is no ska to be found. The Fightbacks are all about the punk rock. They stay true to the sound and with the addition of horns make some great music. The album opens with What We Need. This song is straight-ahead punk rock. The harsh vocals are dead on and you get warmed up for the remainder of the CD. Another Song is the first track to have the horns appear. There are only a few songs that the horns appear on. Which is nice, because too many bands would have over killed it. 5 Million Cigarettes For A Thousand Arguments is a lot harder than the previous tracks and gets the blood flowing. -18- is a fun song that leads directly into a weird little area of a kid talking about the band and saying various things. This is sort of the intermission of the album. The next song “Hardcore” is exactly that, it’s got a great old school hardcore sound. Despiration = dependence has a wonderful bass line and an overall fun sound. This band is definitely a younger band because they spend more time having fun with the music and enjoying it rather than cramming it full of ideas and personal politics. I love that about this album because it’s a more easy going affair. The songs are about personal issues and similar things, but it’s not JUST about that, the music is there to be fun. “Love/Hate” covers tracks 10 and 11. The “Love” part is mellow and has a very heartfelt sound, which is a great illustration of the title of the segment. When the “Hate” part kicks in it’s very fast and hard. It’s a great little concept is of the album.
I recommend this album to anyone who loves straight-ahead, no nonsense punk rock. It’s fast, hard, and has some of the elements of a great album. For a small release, this album has a strong sound. You can get this CD from the band’s homepage and their label(12mfa). I hope you take the time to give this album a listen, it’ll be well worth your time. " samual
the fightbacks - "end of an era" - the package #1 "The debut album by the rockford area punk band. A much more polished and complex recording than their 'crybaby ep'. Playing an origonal style of oldschool punk, hardcore; - thrashed around with some pop melodies and horns added on a few songs for a little extra diversity. This is odd; a really good band that not too many outside of Rock-town know about. This country is going to the dogs. Get this now." - keelan
the fightbacks - "end of an era" - adkg.com "The spirit of '77 is alive and well in Cherry Valley, Illinois. The Fightbacks are a group of four young men who have a lot to say, and say it oh-so-eloquently through fiercely spat vocals, angry guitars, and drumming that makes you wonder if the drummer is having seizures while playing. This combination produces some really well-done punk rock that A) actually contains a message, B) is musically sound, and C) puts an emphasis on the word "punk" instead of the word "rock." The Fightbacks realize that once you can capture the punk, the rock will just come naturally. This is really a great debut disc from a band that could go places. My only advice? Drop the horns. A trumpet and a trombone appear on four songs, and they really only make one of those tracks sound better ["another song"]. Otherwise, the horns give it too much of a Less Than Jake style instead of an Against All Authority style, which I assume these boys would want. So, if you're looking for a gritty punk rock album that truly rocks and gets you in the mood to throw your fist up in the air, pick up "The End Of An Era." ...scott heisel"