When Tigers Fight

When Tigers Fight: Ghost StoryGhost Story (2006)
Indecision Records

Reviewer Rating: 2

User Rating:

Contributed by: moneenerdmoneenerd
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 20th 2006Reviews that just compare a band's newest release to its previous ones are always lame, but I can't help but say, no pun intended, that the new When Tigers Fight just doesn't have the bite that their self-titled EP had. While the guitar-work and production on this release are far more superior th.

Reviews that just compare a band's newest release to its previous ones are always lame, but I can't help but say, no pun intended, that the new When Tigers Fight just doesn't have the bite that their self-titled EP had.

While the guitar-work and production on this release are far more superior than probably anything Tigers' members have done with previous acts (which includes Damnation AD, Suicide File, and the Promise, among others), the ferocity that could be found on the band's debut is seriously lacking, as are the in-your-face vocal attacks of vocalist Mike McTernan, making Ghost Story no different from every modern run-of-the-mill hardcore band that's out now, which is quite ironic since the credits on the insert of their EP read "A very special thanks goes out to the lack of originality, spirit, and honesty in hardcore music out there to help inspire this record."

Don't get me wrong, When Tigers Fight is still heavy and angry as fuck, but the originality just isn't there anymore, and almost each and every track sounds the same as the last. Gone are the angsty call-outs on the current state of the straight-edge hardcore scene, as is any heart, and I hate to say it, but it's mostly due to the boring and formulaic vocal efforts of McTernan. He practices almost no diversity in the rhyme scheme, and it sometimes comes off like children's poetry (e.g. "Keep on talkin' and talkin' / But I don't know what you're talkin' about! / Keep on talkin' and talkin' / But you know I'm out, I'm out!").

Most fans of the band's EP will probably be disappointed with Ghost Story, especially with all of the excitement and expectations surrounding its release. They won't find any memorable lines, nor will they find the earth-shattering breakdowns coupled with McTernan screaming "I'll see you in hell!" Instead, they will be submitted to ridiculous tracks titled "Harmony Café," as McTerman and his crew effortlessly growl "And just because you got a tattoo / Doesn't mean you just got a clue," and other brainless lyrics dealing with trips to the mall and broken promises, obviously, nothing bands like Terror haven't already covered.

However, the disc's opening track "All That's Left" is a brutal guitar assault on the ears, and executes, easily, the best riffs featured on either of Tigers' releases, so points go to that. But be warned, kids, open up those Soulseek programs and find this song, because it's the only one worth listening to.

Overall, a big disappointment from a band I thought had promises of potential, but instead came up short when writing a longer record.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (June 22, 2006)

"Kinda like Madball, but a lot less white-gangsta."

Madball are very, very unwhite.

SlowStupidHungry (June 22, 2006)

Arrrrgh, it's so fucking boring, though! It's like taking the music and draining it of anything dangerous. No real attitude.

Good hardcor bands should never, ever give a fuck.

LMChc (June 22, 2006)

way to name your band after the worst alone in the crowd song on the album

BizzleBrizzle (June 22, 2006)

What's wrong with Terror?

I don't mind the crazy shit either, but that stuff can get boring as well.

SlowStupidHungry (June 22, 2006)

*obligatory reminder that BrizzleBizzle likes Terror*

My problem with this music is that it has no edge. It's steeped in the tradition of late 80's "good boy" hardcore, not crazy early 80's stuff. This is why the hipsters in Das Oath manage to make these guys sound like garbage.

Anonymous (June 22, 2006)

I think Brizzle nailed it with his description.

A stripped-down version of "Kingdom of Lost Souls" with, generally speaking, subpar lyrics, more crew vocals, and generally less interesting musical arrangements. "Harmony Cafe" made me cringe, but there are still a couple decent tunes on this record. Definitely not worth the fifteen I dropped on it though.

BizzleBrizzle (June 22, 2006)

William shut up.

And I don't think this sounds much like Madball at all.

SlowStupidHungry (June 21, 2006)

"Um, If it is so lame, aren't people who find issues with the current state of the scene doing a good thing?"

When the first ten thousand straight edge hardcore bands sang about how bad straight edge hardcore scene is, maybe it held some weight. Now it just seems like a cliche, redundant standard. We get it, sXe hardcore scene sucks! It's become a joke! So stop trying to save something that was flawed from inception and maybe just do your own thing.

moneenerd (June 21, 2006)

Kinda like Madball, but a lot less white-gangsta.

feeeding5000 (June 21, 2006)

I bet this sounds like Madball.

Anonymous (June 21, 2006)

WHERE EAGLES DARE
-Jives

EyesLikeBombs (June 21, 2006)

Um, If it is so lame, aren't people who find issues with the current state of the scene doing a good thing?

SlowStupidHungry (June 21, 2006)

" Gone are the angsty call-outs on the current state of the straight-edge hardcore scene"

Oh yeah, because we need more of those! God, straight edge hardcore is so lame.

BizzleBrizzle (June 20, 2006)

Like I said, it probably is a lot worse than I think it is, but my love for Damnation A.D. makes me like it more than I should. I also think the songs that Mike wrote are the best on the entire record, which could also be why the songs on the EP are better since Ken wasn't even in the band when they put out the EP.

Anonymous (June 20, 2006)

my america is watching this band

Anonymous (June 20, 2006)

Yeah, it's really polished and metal sounding like Kingdom of Lost Souls was, which I'm not too big on, I'm more a fan of Damnation A.D.'s Jade Tree material that's really noisey and rough.

I think I'm one of the few that preferred "Kingdom of Lost Souls" to "No More Dreams" (Ahh, who am I kidding? All of Damnation's records are money),

I finally snagged it today, and I'm popping it in right now. I must say the lyrics aren't looking so hot right about now.

danperrone (June 20, 2006)

i'm not really a fucking jackass, just not really tolerant of extremely horrible hardcore music

this really pushes the bar for awful music...and i'm surprised, since you know your hardcore as well as anyone on this website

GreenVandal (June 20, 2006)

Great band name.

moos (June 20, 2006)

a review by a guy with such a nick cant be taken serious. though, this record is mediocry at best.

BizzleBrizzle (June 20, 2006)

Yeah, it's really polished and metal sounding like Kingdom of Lost Souls was, which I'm not too big on, I'm more a fan of Damnation A.D.'s Jade Tree material that's really noisey and rough.

Anonymous (June 20, 2006)

"Kindgom of Lost Souls" you say?

Well, that certainly works for me.

BizzleBrizzle (June 20, 2006)

Also, I'll be really fucking bummed if the new Damnation A.D. has awful lyrics.

BizzleBrizzle (June 20, 2006)

I dunno, here's my review of it:

I thoroughly enjoy it, I definitely think the songs on the EP were better, a lot of the songs on this record have stupid lyrics, which blows my mind because Damnation A.D. had some of the best lyrics ever. And the WTF EP also had some awesome lyrics. Musically the record reminds me a ton of Damnation A.D.'s Kingdom of Lost Souls. Personally, I think the only reason I enjoy this so much is because of my love for Damnation A.D./Battery.

Also:

Whoever said this is some of the worst music they've heard in their life is a fucking jackass.

danperrone (June 20, 2006)

i would seriously give this one star

it's some of the worst music i've ever heard in my life

moneenerd (June 20, 2006)

yeah. its definately a mediocre album. nothing special, which sucks, cuz the ep kicked so much ass. it slow moving, and boring. essentially, nothing to be excited about.

etwiels88 (June 20, 2006)

I sortof half liked the mp3's I heard from this band. It was just okay really.

adam (June 20, 2006)

"Reviews that just compare a band's newest release to its previous ones are always lame"

Context is lame? Huh?

-adam