Whenever a local band comes out with an EP there is always an unspoken fear that it will not translate into a kick-ass album. On the other hand, sometimes a band sounds too clean as they get lost in an Auto- Tune garden. Nashville natives The 1-10’s new EP Fighting for the Golden Age walks the tightrope of sounding authentic to their heavy, impromptu live sound, while not sounding sloppy.
The opening track, “Run From Your Master,” sets the tone for the heavy rock sound that is evident throughout the entire album. As the lead vocalist sings in an almost scream, “That’s looks good,” there is a lighthearted feel to the music, the kind found front row at a crowed live show complete with sweaty punk rock kids and a Parliament Light smoke cloud.
Heavy electric guitars and funky beats make this album one to be played loudly, or not at all. The real narrative is in the music, not the words. Lyrically there is a surrealist bluesy quality, but the music itself achieves a constant rhythm of near perfect electric guitar riffs and heavy drums beats. This is especially evident in “Liars and Thieves” where there is a guitar solo that would impress Slash. The lead singer has the quirky, almost conversationalist lilt of Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), while at times seeming like a less pretentious Caleb Followill (Kings of Leon), with a splash of grunge rock irreverence thrown into the mix.
“Dying Blues” starts off with a beat that sounds like the opening sequence of “Seinfeld.”Then it unleashes a mash of heavy bass and electric guitars that seem to almost be fighting with the lead vocalist for command of the song, but it’s a nice fight, as the song works in its high intensity.
On “Eye for an Eye” the lead vocalist and backup vocalist volley of each other to produce a sound reminiscent of an angrier Mumford and Sons, as they aim for a slower, more harmonic sound. This track has some pretty memorable lyrics: “This morning I cried and I cried out to my God and he didn’t reply/I’m willing to try anything but love.”
Fighting for the Golden Age is a musical Molotov cocktail of dirty, off-the-cuff rock that isn’t for those who prefer their music polite and controlled. There’s always Ryan Cabrera for that. – Krystal Wallace