Throwing Stuff

Fit, Fine & Well

Written by: MAK on 07/06/2017 13:59:03

While Independent punk label, TNSRecords features a wider range of subgenres including ska-punk and folk, what has become clear in the last year or so at least is their more favourable approach in throwing simple, fast and aggressive punk-rock our way. Throwing Stuff for one, are a four-piece hardcore punk band based out of Manchester, England by way of London and Liverpool. Taking influence from the likes of Minor Threat, Paint It Black and Cold Ones, they deliver a pacey, thrashy, no-nonsense punk expression that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but doesn’t shy away from the serious topics on their debut album, “Fit, Fine & Well”.

We’ll start with the personal issues; “Father’s Day”, the Gallows-esque final track of the album which is a full-frontal assault on the ears of throaty shouts on top of an array of raw distorted riffs and hard-hitting riffs. The song is about vocalist Ben’s experiences coping with his dad’s terminal, stage four brain tumour over the last year. “There’s a reason that I’m holding back the tears, I just don’t know how long that you’ll be here” are about as personal and passionate the lyrics can get, though a song such as “I Know What’s Best’ is a thrashy hardcore number that touches on Ben’s mental health struggles.

“Fit, Fine & Well”, pushes on to world affairs. “The Hunter”, which is laced with hardcore-like guitar grooves is about the trade in rhino horns. The 45-second long “We Wrote This Song Before David Cameron Resigned” touches on the ex-prime minister’s leadership and sexual allegations. Throwing stuff continue with the likes of the pitfalls of evolution in “Whatever Made You Think that Paper Was So Valuable?”, or genocide in “The Butcher”.

Most of the tracks are really short and barely make the two-minute mark, yet the best track happens to be the longest at just over three minutes. “Token Beef” borrows the same two-step drum rolls and grooves as former Manchester hardcore band Survival along with the erratic beats, riffs. It combines the fun and aggressive tones well, then closes with a huge array of punchy gang vocals.

Most of “Fit, Fine & Well” is pretty samey, sound-wise at least. It’s raw, very low-fi, up-tempo and completely full of angst, like a more aggressive Revenge of the Psychotronic Man or a darker Pizza Tramp. The riff progression at the start of “Steve’s Job” even reminds me of the intro to Revenge track, “Rrose Sélavy (To Make A Toast To Life)”. Not so say of this is a bad thing, just don’t expect any real diversity or obviously different influences thrown into the mix. It’s a solid release that does exactly what it needs to create energy and deliver the right kind messages.

7

Download: Token Beef, Steve's Job, The Hunder
For The Fans Of: Revenge of the Psychotronic Man, Pizza Tramp, Gallows, Survival
Listen: facebook.com

Release date 07.04.2017
TNSRecords

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