ALBUM REVIEW: No Souvenirs – Fightmilk
On their third studio album, FIGHTMILK have set out to evolve and explore new sounds. The result is No Souvenirs, an album that pulls upon varying degrees of pop-punk and DIY punk influence, but keeps its feet firmly planted within the indie-rock sphere.
No Souvenirs moves through a variety of anecdotal offerings and each track feels like a snippet of a diary entry. Opening track Summer Bodies is a delightful indie rock track that approaches body issues face on. Opening the album, the song’s fun sprightly guitars and precise, pointed lyrics set in motion the balance of joy and rage that FIGHTMILK seek to express.
Approaching angst and rage, FIGHTMILK are pulling on heavier sounds to cathartically express such emotions. That Thing You Did is an angst filled and loud track, taking on more of the pop punk influence that the album carries. The chorus is snappy and energetic, whilst the guitars dynamically pulse across the track. Equally, Back From Tour is filled with pop-punk inspired riffs, and the vocals on Yearning And Pining are fraught with raw emotion. These moments where FIGHTMILK step only slightly further afield for influence are truly exciting and offer some of the more memorable moments on the album.
Yet, whilst these bigger moments suggest new heights, they only ever seem to be a fleeting experiment for the band and don’t seem to fulfil their sonic potential. The more melodic track Canines focuses on smaller, specific incidents to base the lyrics on, such as the humorous retelling of being bitten by a dog. For its intriguing premise, the song roots the album in an indie rock space where its feet never quite lift off the ground.
This varying mix of musical influences at times leaves the album feeling confused as to its intentions. Title track No Souvenirs is another anthemic track and climactically builds to a nice finish. But it’s placement in the middle of the album feels strange. The chorus’ lyrics ‘we’re ruining the ending for ourselves’ are possibly a nod to this decision and do embrace the messiness of the album and its varying emotions. But it can’t help from feeling misplaced amongst the rest of the tracks, and the rest of the interesting influences that never seem to make their mark.
The album’s strengths fall in its lyricism. FIGHTMILK‘s lyrical humour as in Canines is persistent throughout No Souvenirs. This tongue-in-cheek wit is a particular strength in their storytelling. Later track My Best Me balances emotional outpouring with deflective humour, and musically utilises loud drums and impassioned vocals in order to pack a punch.
Behind this wall of humour however does seem to an emotional thread throughout some of the album’s tracks. Banger #7 moves the album into a slower, more melodic pace that does feel flat compared to the more energetic moments the album has to offer. Yet, the lyrics are candid and the raw vocals pierce through. Similarly, Inferno may not be the most energetic, but its lyrics are emotionally wrought and moving. These lyrical moments find their peak in the penultimate track Paddling Pool, which is a shimmeringly intimate expression of vulnerability.
Closing track 30 concludes the album’s varying emotional offerings, reflecting on milestones and the passing of the years. The grungier guitars add momentum to the album’s final moments and see the band attempting to call back to some of the album’s heavier influences. No Souvenirs closes reflectively, and fittingly so seeks to tie up the variety of anecdotal tracks it offers.
Offering rage, joy, and catharsis, FIGHTMILK lay it all on the table on No Souvenirs. In this process, they pull upon heavier influences to express such rage, and yet never fully seem to reach the catharsis it warrants. Instead, the heights on this album come from their emotional vulnerability, and their candid approach to telling stories.
Rating: 6/10
No Souvenirs is set for release on November 15th via Fika Recordings/INH Records.
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