{"id":7252,"date":"2022-01-01T16:15:41","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T16:15:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=7252"},"modified":"2023-06-27T19:17:05","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T18:17:05","slug":"the-fauves-make-up-for-lost-time-with-latest-album-reignited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=7252","title":{"rendered":"The Fauves make up for lost time with latest album Reignited"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: The Fauves – Reignite (self-released)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Fauves are a punk band who were formed in South Shields back in 1978, when the four original members left the fledgling Angelic Upstarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After releasing just one single they broke up in 1980, but reformed in 2016 to record some old songs, as no studio recordings existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few line-up changes later, an EP and then a belated debut album, Back Off World<\/em>, were released, featuring revamped old songs and three new ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were so well received that the new line-up of Mick Smith (vocals), Allen Hughes (guitar), Bri Smith (bass) and Bob Rowland (drums) decided to keep making new music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 put a big spanner in their works<\/a><\/strong>, but 2021 saw the band finally finish and release a second full-length album, Reignited<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s unashamedly old-school in its sound, but don’t get the idea that this is just some old blokes retreading past glories – far from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fauves add passion and power to their undoubted knack of writing catchy, driving punk rock tunes. They remind me a lot of bands like System Of Hate and, yes, the Upstarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four of the tracks here – excellent opener Anti-Social<\/em>, Underground<\/em>, Why <\/em>and a revamped version of oldie City Life<\/em> – were on a demo CD which earned them lots of airplay on local punk radio shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there’s half a dozen brand new songs too, including the standout title track, which could be the band’s anthem as Mick snarls “we have the right, to be who we want to be”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those gravelly vocals, married with some gutsy, chugging guitar and a relentless rhythm section, means The Fauves are a band it’s easy to warm to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They spent the last few months getting back to playing live, and audiences were so impressed that the first pressing of the album is almost sold out*.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s down to the strength of songs like the apocalyptic Destruction<\/em>, with its propulsive drums and throbbing bassline; the defiant Showdown<\/em>, and the pacey Believe<\/em>, which leans towards a heavier rock sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It looks like The Fauves are here to stay, and that’s very good news indeed. Now I just need to get round to seeing them live, where I’m assured they don’t disappoint. 7.5\/10.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n