ZEX - Fight For Yourself

Capitalicide Records / Uncle D Records

 

A little while back another Canadian band knocked me out of my socks with their releases of the “Savage City” and “Wanderlust” 7 inches. If you are a frequent reader you know I am talking about female fronted ‘glam-street-punk’ band Zex! Soon after these two EP’s were released it was clear that they were just a teaser for things to come in the form of their full-length debut LP “Fight For Yourself” when they uploaded an official video of the title track on their YouTube page.

 

Now that the full-length is here (released on both cassette and LP) I have to say I am a bit surprised. The two EP’s, including its B-sides “Buy Or Die” and “Escape This Life”, contained energetic, raw as hell, gloomy punkrock jams, but on “Fight For Yourself” Zex sounds a bit... tame. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still enough energy pumped into this ten track LP, but unfortunately I miss that rawness “Buy Or Die” had on the B-side of “Savage City” 7” and the melancholy and distress on “Escape This Life”, that was the B-side of the “Wanderlust” EP.

 

Because where the EP’s sounded like a threatening, glam influenced no-holds-barred punk attack, Zex sounds somewhat timid in comparison on their debut full-length. This leaves me with the feeling that the band won’t let you and me hear their full potential of the wild, dangerous and sometimes lewd, live act they appear to be on these studio recordings. Maybe I am being too negative here, because by all means, “Fight For Yourself” is not a bad record… at all! It just lacks a bit of the intensity I personally was hoping for.

 

But besides the obvious retro image and style, Zex also has something refreshing to its sound that make me want to spin “Fight For Yourself” time after time either way. With some excellent songs, great riffs, earsplitting solos and Gretchen’s superb vocals these guys and gals still managed to make a cool debut album you want to flip over and over again whether you buy it on LP or tape!

 

Edit December, 2014: ZEX was cute enough to burn a Canadian flag, photograph it and post it on Facebook, we don't support flag burning obviously and I wasn't aware at the time I did this interview / did my reviews. Love your country - Hate your government! I decided to leave the interview and reviews online because what's done is done, just thought you should know before reading any further.