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Fist > Back with a Vengeance: The Anthology > Reviews
Fist - Back with a Vengeance: The Anthology

The "Hole In The Wall Gang"... - 98%

Danthrax_Nasty, May 16th, 2006

North East England, late 1979, a rock band named Axe picked up bassist John Wylie, and changed their name… to Fist. In little time (the band had dissolved by the end of 1982) this group had produced an impressive catalogue of towering old school Hard Rock/Heavy Metal tunes, numbers, and good time anthems. What was fashioned was a unique blend of styles incorporating a solid appreciation of bluesy Rock, the then updated Heavy Metal sound, and a fine tuned inclination for crafting tunes around a formulaic, yet highly accessible, and enjoyable pop format (well I find it a bit more than enjoyable, but…).

They were one of the initial groups to record for legendary label Neat Records (along side Tygers Of Pan Tang, and White Spirit), and also put out one of Neat Records most famed singles (Name, Rank, And Serial Number, which contained cover art drawn by a guy who not to long after became Cronos of Venom). They were also one of the many bands from that scene, and period that, against all intents, drifted off into obscurity even in spite of support from a major label (MCA). This compilation features the original Axe version of S.S. Gyro, a substantial collection of various Fist album/single tracks, and a couple of very rare demos.

The music has a strong appeal in the vein of American Hard Rock. That old school blues reliance, with an overly chunky hard hitting sound, and an up beat rhythm. The music on a whole contains a lot of variety, seemingly brandishing hints from a broad
spectrum of the NWOBHM scene… I can hear some Quartz, some Raven, some Judas Priest, yet, with said, overall, sounds very fit to stand along side a good portion of the heavier, non-corporate late 70’s American Rock bands.

If not the most original of riffs, each song seems to contain a well written format of verse/chorus/solo structure, and it’s precisely here where this band excels so well. If you love that old Rock’n party sound, that ineffaceable nostalgia of, “that old time Rock and
Roll”, than you will doubtlessly take pleasure in the harmonies, melodies, and thundering rhythms of Fist.

Of the many highlights, “One Percenter”, “Name, Rank, And Serial Number”, “Axeman (personal favorite)”, “Same Time Same Place”, “Collision Course”, “Lost And Found”,
and “Vamp” are my picks for top tunes off here (it was hard to decide from 33 great songs!).

So, as a round about thought, if you love to scream along with driving catchy rhythms, and absorb some shred-tastic guitar worship than you must hear Fist! Fist (fucking) Rule (s)! Grab a beer, pack a bong, gather your friends, “Turn The Hell On”, and get yourself a good time.