Formed in 2003 by Jamie Rhoden, Ned Russin and Ben Russin (they’re twins), this band began as a triplet of thirteen-year-olds from Kingston, Pennsylvania. Their later success is undoubtedly all down to this passion that began in their early teens and I think it’s why there songs have such energy to them. In 2005 Shane Moran joined the crew and the band was complete.
Releasing several demos and attending countless amateur gigs, this young band were obsessed with producing music. In 2009 their first proper release The Last Thing You Forget was distributed by Run For Cover Records. It featured some new songs as well as polished versions of tracks they had already made. It’s loud, it’s hungry and it is a perfect beginning for this band.
In 2011 the group signed with SideOneDummy Records and brought out their debut album Shed. Next came Floral Green in 2012 and then an EP known as Spring Songs in 2013 backed by Revelation Records. Again these tracks have a gut-wrenching quality to them. The vocals are aggressive and the instruments are played with a ferocity that sounds almost damaging.
If you really want to get the essence of this band then look at their live performances. Here the overwhelming passion and intensity is embodied by their wild playstyle and complete immersion in the music. I love watching Ned jump with his guitar, and seeing Ben smash the absolute hell out of his drums. The crowd loves it too, evidenced by an ever-present mosh pit that involves regular circuits of fans stage-diving. It just comes off as so genuine, and it is why I love this band so much.
Though quite a change from their previous work, this album is a beautiful piece of music.
Finally, in 2014 they signed to ANTI- and released their final album Hyperview in 2015. This album is where things turn to a slower pace and where the shoegaze label gets thrown around. Though quite a change from their previous work, this album is a beautiful piece of music. It’s sombre tones sadly become a fitting end to their audacious discography as it is their last album since they went on hiatus in 2018. Though the band hasn’t officially broken up, it looks like the band will stay apart for the foreseeable future.
Picking favourite songs for me is an exceedingly difficult task, especially since many of these tracks are designed to blend into one another; but there some that really speak to me. Western Haikus, Head in the Ceiling Fan, Shed, Frown, 27, Crescent-Shaped Depression, Society, Stab, You Can’t Say Kingston Doesn’t Love You and Murder Your Memory are just perfect.
So that’s it for this piece on one of the most important bands in my life. I could write countless more about them, but I’d never be able to fully articulate the pleasure I have experienced listening to them. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Title Fight.