Album Review: Title Fight - 'Shed'

12 June 2011 | 11:00 pm | Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

This is the record that the band has been hinting at for years now, an early highlight of 2011.

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Easily one of the most anticipated releases of the year, “Shed”, the debut album from Kingston, Pennsylvanian four-piece Title Fight certainly lives up to its expectations. The band has been captivating audiences worldwide since the release of the 2009 7”, “The Last Thing You Forget”, and “Shed” is set to take them even further, as it shows the potential the band has been hinting at for years now. Moving even further away from their pop punk roots, and guided by the production efforts of hardcore legend Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today, Rival Schools), the band has crafted an album that you won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

The opening track “Coxton Yard” is what you can expect from a Title Fight record. The band’s signature dual vocals of guitarist Jamie Rhoden and bassist Ned Russin, backed by the driving drum beat from Ned’s twin brother Ben Russin. The album’s title track is where the band’s maturity in their song writing begins to shine through. The driving riff in the track shows a real 90’s influence in the band’s sound, and it’s where Russin’s vocals get their first chance to be fully heard. His voice has really improved and gotten stronger since the band’s last release, and are in full flight during “27”. “Flood Of ‘72”, “You Can't Say Kingston Doesn't Love You” and “Your Screen Door” are tracks that will appeal to fans of the band’s older material, due to their faster tempo and catchy lyrics belted out by Rhoden. “Society” provides some great riffs from guitarist Shane Moran, and sees Russin pushing his rough vocals more than ever. “Crescent-Shaped Depression” shows a real improvement in the band’s overall song writing, making it one of the most cohesive and memorable tracks on the record.

The second half of the album is where things start to really get interesting. “Safe In Your Skin”, featuring guest vocals by producer Schreifels, is a mainly instrumental, 90’s emo influenced track, with almost haunting qualities at times. The track leads into what could quite possibly be the best track on the album, “Where Am I?”. The track is unlike anything the band has released so far in their career, with its almost rock sound at times. Rhoden’s lines of “maybe there’s nothing, only this moment” will be cemented in your brain, even after the first listen. “27” was the first track the band released from the record, and have even filmed a music video for it. Russin’s vocals are at their harsh sounding best on this track, and it provides a good contrast to Rhoden’s vocals on the previous track. I can see this being one of the band’s more popular tracks from the record. “Stab” will sound great in the band’s live performances if they choose to do so, due to its big levels of energy and infectious lyrics. “GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)” is the perfect closer for the record. It is engaging the whole way through, with all elements of the band on show, and ends the record on an impressive note.

Some fans of the band may not like this as much as their previous releases, but “Shed” is definitely the band’s best release so far, and should launch Title Fight to that next level. I can't wait to see the band play tracks from this record in September, even if it is from behind massive barriers. It’s an early contender for album of the year, setting the standard very high for everyone else.

1. Coxton Yard

2. Shed

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3. Flood Of ‘72

4. Society

5. You Can't Say Kingston Doesn't Love You

6. Crescent-Shaped Depression

7. Safe In Your Skin

8. Where Am I?

9. Your Screen Door

10. 27

11. Stab

12. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)