Review Summary: Moderate riffs
You never really know what to expect when it comes to guessing if a Manafest album is more Rock or Hip-hop. With Fighter, it is without doubt a rock album, with a good amount of catchy riffs. The absence of ballads (though there is one) is a key factor on why this album is not on par with his sophomore effort Glory, or his mainstream smash The Chase. You can still get some joy out of it though.
Leading off with the title track, wrestling fans will be at the edge of their seats when they hear it opening with the bell of a wrestling/boxing match. Their hopes and dreams will then be crushed after the song, and especially the album, is over. Fighter has a catchy riff and chorus, but, like the rest of the album, it never reaches high intensity like a WrestleMania opener.
In fact, the title track is the heaviest song on Fighter. The calm minor chords from half the album do NOT make it sound like his fifth album, however, they make it sound his first. With a record called Fighter, and the first song opening with a boxing/wrestling bell, you would expect to hear some intensity like, for example, Bring The Ruckus from The Chase.
As much as I want to keep going on about the level of intensity, I have to admit, Pushover is a really good attempt. But not quite right. It does still have the best riff of the album; it actually is one of the best riffs Chris has written (up to this album), but isn’t quite worthy of your craze phase. Which eventually leads to it being forgotten.
The one ballad in this album is actually the best in this album. The production is flawless (VERY unlike its bonus acoustic after the record’s end) and it all comes out just beautiful. The lyrics are a different story though, practically chasing secular listeners away from the album. It would be very hard to see a different perspective on this song, with lyrics like (Reach out to my hand in the darkness/ That's holding you/ I'll be your peace in the waiting/ Your strength when you're broken on the floor/ Hold on, it's all worth fighting for/ Cause i will never let you go…).
Human contains a simple riff and a straightforward meaning. It’s basically saying “I’m not an angel; I’m human” It is a highlight on the album and the most popular song in the album.
The closer of Fighter, Will You Catch Me, would be a great closer if it wasn’t for the repetitiveness of the chorus. I mean, how could this not be annoying, let alone repeating it twice (Will you catch me if I fall down?/ If I fall down/ Will you catch me/ If I fall?). It takes a lot away from the song, marking it as a not very good closer.
So basically this album is a bunch of moderate riffs. That’s basically it. And it doesn’t even have any features, not even from Trevor McNevan (mind blown effect). And it’s also really short; the runtime is 36 minutes, (for the normal version,) including the acoustic for Never Let You Go. That’s too short. Takes even more away from the album.
*Fun Fact* A Japanese version of Fighter was released (to Japan, obviously), with the title track marked as the last track, the acoustic removed, and a new track, Kimi Wa Fighter was track one. This is where we learn Chris can speak fluent Japanese.
