Cash In/Fight AmpI was pretty stoked to get this 7” in the mail for review because I’ve always really appreciated Cash In as one of the more underrated New Jersey bands around today and I haven’t heard much from them recently. Actually the last time I even saw them live was when I booked them for an OS101 reunion show a couple years back. That’s a long time for a local band in my eyes. The second band on this record is admittingly new to me even though they too, are from the Garden State. Fight Amp is also from South Jersey, yet have completely stayed under my radar for a number of years unfortunately.
Cash In offer two tracks in the way of “Holiday” and “Three & Change Years”. If you’re unfamiliar with Cash In, they play an aggressive hardcore that borders on melodic. Kid Dynamite and Have Heart instantly come to mind when listening to their half of the record. The guitars charge and swirl around the spitting vocals that are very similar to Dan Yemin’s style from Paint It Black. I highly recommend you get into Cash In immediately!
Fight Amp offer up an original song, “Bitter Son” as well as a cover of German legends Hammerhead, “All This Is Yours”. The first thing that comes to mind when I listen to Fight Amp is an early 90’s sound. Not just one sound, however, from the early 90’s. Rather their sound seems to mix the pre-grunge groups like The Melvins with the more metal sounds of Amphetamine Reptile Records acts such as Helmet and Unsane. Fight Amp rely on heavy bass distortion to plod their sludgy assault on your aural senses. The Hammerhead cover is spot on and it makes me want to track down a copy of “Into The Vortex” since I regrettably never picked up that record. Fight Amp are definitely worth checking out.
This is a great split from two excellent New Jersey bands on an excellent Jersey label. The record’s cover features some cool artwork by Doug Foulke and the interior layout is simple yet effective. I highly recommend anyone reading to go pick up this 7”.
Rating: 4.8/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: “Three & Change Years” & “All This Is Yours”
Synopsis: This 7” definitely gives you a heavy dose of Jersey with two NJ bands on a NJ label and in my Jersey mind that’s quite alright with me. I know that was cheesy, but honestly, I am always for helping out some local bands who are deserving of more exposure. These two right here definitely fall into that category. Do everyone here, yourself included, and go buy this record…then pick up their other releases and start singing their praises as well.