Review Summary: Bluesfighter.
Innovators. Rising stars. Ones to watch. Barfighter earned all and more of these epiteths with their first two EP's; and now, with their third release, they see another adjective be added to that list: workhorses.
Indeed, the record under scrutiny here is the group's third release in only
four months - the sort of work ethic which would make their 70s and 80s idols proud. And while the gap this time around is not quite as short – ten weeks, as opposed to only four between
Barfighter and
Barfighter 2 – the impressive regularity of the group's release schedule shows the well of creativity certainly does not run dry in whatever part of Kentucky these boys are from.
A constant stream of releases is not enough, however; in music, like in any form of art, quantity is meaningless if the artist cannot ensure at least a passable level of quality. Fortunately, much like with their previous release, the group go to great pains to ensure the standard of the music on the creatively titled
Barfighter 3 does not suffer from their eagerness to put themselves out there – and, much like with their previous release, they succeed with honours.
Effectively, three records into their career, Barfighter's quality control remains as tight as their release schedule; and while they still have not been able to replicate the dizzying heights of their debut EP, they have at least managed to carry the significantly high standard of songwriting over from their previous outing, making this new 26-minute set of three tracks every bit as good as the
last 26-minute set of three tracks (and yes – the band's borderline OCD approach to structure and length remains wholly intact on this new opus, too.)
One of the group's main strengths is, however, their acute awareness that consistency does not have to mean stagnation – a viewpoint which allows
Barfighter 3 to represent a natural evolution of the band's sound, while still sounding comfortingly familiar to listeners previously acquainted with the Kentucky trio. All of the group's main distinguishing traits – the fuzzy, wailing guitar leads, driving rhythms and proudly retro stoner/psych sensibilites - are still present and accounted for; the overall songwriting approach, however, sees them veer away from the pummelling riffs and atmospheres of their first two releases and towards the more laid-back, bluesy approach showcased on
Barfighter 2's closer
Fist of the Zodiac (to which
3's opener
Golden Helix is a perfect segue). The Sabbath-influenced riffery does still occasionally rear its head - most notably in the opening and closing sections of
Under the Shroud - but overall, this third EP evidences a much more laid-back, mellow sound. In short, this new release sees Barfighter transition to Bluesfighter.
This does not mean, of course, that there is nothing here to keep existing Barfighter fans satisfied; much to the contrary, in fact. As mentioned, the songwriting standard is still enviably high, especially for such an incipient group, and while not as mind-blowing as their debut,
3 is still an excellent record in its own right. Barfighter prove just as adept at performing tripped-out blues jams as they are at spewing out 70s stoner/doom riffage, and their music continues to make for the ideal companion for a creative or chill-out session. Not everything is perfect, of course – certain musical ideas still sound recycled from the first two outings – but by the time
Bloodcaster's ten-plus minutes have run their course, Barfighter have done enough to keep interest in their music at a high, and to further stake their claim as the future of instrumental psych rock. Here's looking forward to
Barfighter 4.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE (FREE DOWNLOAD): https://barfighter.bandcamp.com/album/barfighter-3
Recommended Tracks
Golden Helix
