FISK – The ‘Smile Drift’ EP.
FISK – New York City, New York, USA.
Punk music or anything remotely similar coming out of New York City is something you should never ignore. The famous locale and its penchant for crucial and influential Punk and Hardcore will always warrant it notable attention and with the latest from underground (sort of) two-piece FISK, you have another young band to sample.
Smile Drift is the second EP from the band since their formation in 2016 and isn’s quite what you’d expect in that it may well take the Garage Rock and 77′ Punk traditions and playful melodies and emulate them well enough, but in such a way that it sounds akin to what said stylistic would sound like if they happened now rather than way back when.
‘Voodoo Daddy’ plays you in via a Baptist church style address before pounding, distorted, gritty but well produced Garage Rock soaked in low Blues Rock-reverb and slight melodic Punk charge. FISK are one for a solid use of just instrumentals and this first track is perfect opener.
‘Little Pet’ plays with this jagged Punk formula further but this time more so inline with the Ramones‘ legacy before urgent melodic Rock n’ Roll vocals take over in an almost dated-British fashion. The vocals notably contrast the music as they are the opposite of what you may expect after the opening grit but are all the more effective because of such.
One CiCi Young adds her dulcet tones to ‘Alice’ instead just her bass work with takes its rightful place throughout. ‘Alice’ misleads you with its intro before gritty 90’s Pop-Punk takes the band away from their main path on one of the best songs on this second EP. The band’s lead strings are of note here in that although not overly complex, their tone and short & sharp placement couldn’t be better penned.
The eponymous ‘Smile Drift’ is more in line from I expect from the band, aggressive Garage Punk –Rock infused with just enough melody in the chorus to fill your wish for a heavier band. ‘Smile Drift’ is down-tempo to its mid-point before whirling (and more complex) guitars and time signatures make this the band’s hardest thus far alongside its social-political rant.
‘Boss Fight’ is another instrumental before ominous and starkly high pitched tones of ‘City Lights’. You lose yourself in this last track through an EP that is nothing but consistent. ‘City Lights’ carries strong but aggressive melodies alongside rhythmic drumming and vocals still carrying that oh so welcome contrast.
FISK bring the past to the now and and their own stamp to the New York Punk-Rock Deli, if this was a sub or a bagel, I’d buy it…
Find them:
- Social Media/Updates: Facebook, Official Website.
- Music: bandcamp, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Play.
#StayFresh
