Gasoline Fight - Useless Piece of Weaponry (Thick Records)

Reviewed by Mark Oster

The latest chapter in the incestuous scene of this city brings us Gasoline Fight, featuring former members of the Traitors, Small Brown Bike, Sweep the Leg Johnny, and Peralta, Elements of these former acts certainly peek through in the new band, but I write that only knowing the roster, a blind listen would not reveal this distinct band's background. It is intelligent punk rock, which can be expected from it's forbearers, aggressive and complex, spending most of it's time at a breakneck pace, but agilely slipping into half timed breakdowns. The vocals are chilling; growled, barked and shouted, heavily motivated by the tremendous reality of bassist/lyricist's Francisco Ramirez's battle with Leukemia, and the pain, stress, and confrontation with mortality resulting from the illness. His bass, coupled with Scott Anna's furious drumming drives a rumbling rhythm section over which Scott Flaster and Stan Wood (also the project's producer) lay emphatic guitar textures. The guitar riffage is reminiscent of Drive Like Jehu in it's intricateness and intensity, and provide a biting backdrop for the vocals. At five songs and thirteen and a half all-too-brief minutes, the album is somewhat of a tease, but if you're into Jehu, post-you name it, and cutting edge aggressive punk/hardcore, you probably should be checking this out.

Originally posted in Issue 1.2, September/October 2004