Album Review: Fights And Fires – Live Life Like A Tourist

Worcester, UK based punk rock quartet Fights And Fires are heading in to the Summer of 2017 with their latest album, Live Life Like A Tourist, that is due for release on July 14th through Lockjaw Records. Live Life Like A Tourist features eight tracks of melodic hardcore infused gruff punk rock that is inspired by the members of Fights And Fires finding happiness in their personal lives, rekindling a love for life and a passion for their music. As such this is optimistic release that carries an underlying message of positivity that runs throughout all eight tracks on the record, a message that is underpinned by one simple message, that you’re not on your own.

The bass rumble that opens Live Life Like A Tourist leads into the full blooded melodic hardcore of Reggae,  this intense slab of brutal punk rock lays down the template for much of the album, this is eight tracks of pummelling guitar riffs with gruff punk vocals with a dense and claustrophobic feel, but they re no one trick pony and there are notable moments that stop Live Life Like A Tourist being a one trick pony. Tracks like Awkward head into straight forward hardcore territory with a more brutal approach than much of the album, whereas Camping, and especially Ouija Board, bring comparatively mellow moments, although mellow for Fights And Fires is still very much an intense and noisy affair.

Fights And Fires are very much born of the harder edged end of the melodic hardcore scene, with the exception of Ouija Board this is a raw heavy and intense album that is influenced by the original spirit of hardcore. The raw vocal delivery and intense delivery ensure that Live Life Like A Tourist picks up exactly where their 2013 sophomore album, We Could All Be Dead Tomorrow, left off and indicates that Fights and Fires still live up to their moniker after all almost ten years together.

Live Life Like A Tourist can be pre-ordered on vinyl and digital formats via Lockjaw Records here