Cigarette Crossfire – Self Titled

Sometimes bands luck out early in their career.  In the case of Finnish punk rock outfit Cigarette Crossfire, the departure of founding vocalist Jere and quick assimilation of newcomer Matti might just be that luck.  Where Jere’s coarse style lumped the band closer to the the likes of Hot Water Music and Leatherface, Matti’s more shrill dynamic vears the band closer to Leftöver Crack frontman Stza’s crusty croak.  Without speaking ill of Jere’s past contributions, Matti is unquestionably the more dynamic of the two.  Not surprisingly, Cigarette Crossfire’s self-titled sophomore full-length is a brilliant statement to the band’s overriding passion and talent.

Against the rattle-snap-bang of drummer Santtu’s infectious enthusiasm, the quartet’s zealous melodies fly to life.  Opener “Brave The Storm” marches in against a slightly north of mid-tempo melody that eases listeners into Matti’s tuneful calls.  Wasting no time to dive into a bourgeoning chorus complete with tight harmonies, the band teeters on a tight line of combative riffs as they urge listeners to persevere and push through tough times.  Introducing a salvo of gang vocals, “Face Of My Enemy” exists on a similar sonic plane, eventually easing listeners into the quick paced, shrill pitch of “Pill Pusher.”  But even in their most chaotic moments, Cigarette Crossfire’s knack for catchy, in your face melodies achieves a steadfast sense of recurring, anthemic scale.  While not practical to sing along with Matti’s rapid fire pace, even the loosest of songs are incredibly catchy once they hit their stride and will have listeners lip sinking to the choruses.  

Proponents of good old punk rock with an edge will be quick to appreciate Cigarette Crossfire’s sophomore full length.  As should be clear, the album picks up momentum and never loses steam.  Later standouts like “Lies,” “Rise Above” and “Graveyard” continue to harness the same passionate guitar and vocal energy in a fresh new form with each passing song.  Even the bloated five minute swan song “Stained” packs an ardent punch that will have listeners clamouring for the repeat button mere moments upon running its course.  In a time where many contemporary punk bands have been scaling back for a more accessible sound, Cigarette Crossfire amps up with rewarding results.