Fingertight’s debut album, “In the Name of Progress” is a nonstop fast passed progression into an angry world of heavy rock riffs and furious, emotionally desperate vocals. With increasing pressure from major record labels for a band to instantly deliver, it has become a rare quality for a hard rock group to be able to authentically express themselves without sounding contrived or sappy. In fact, it seems to be even harder to introduce catchy hooks into the equation without the whole ordeal coming off sounding like another faceless radio rock record. One could sit down and analyze the heck out of their album, but the fact is Fingertight has made a catchy album that for the most part sounds fresh and new.
Packed with a new innovative and emotionally subjective melodic metal, “In The Name Of Progress” finds Fingertight delivering fantastic hooks, intricate instrumentation and the occasional haunting melody as well as driving riffs, a ample amount of piano and a loosely determined rhythm section. If comparison must be made one could say that this band sounds like a twisted cross between Taproot, Our Lady Peace and The Lostprophets. This band seems to excel at writing material that is inherently tailored to be pleasing to the mainstream ear, yet possesses a bit the kind of depth that goes beyond a face value listening.
The band wrote and composed all of the fifteen tracks on the debut album. This fact may explain the somewhat repetitive themes of anger, loneliness, and all around social displeasure that emanate throughout the compact disk. A prime example of their uninspired lyrical styling comes from their first track, “Fear in me”. “The shame inside me, the fate they’ve tried to seal.”
At the same time though what makes this band so endearing are the glimmers of lyrical genius that vein throughout the whole work. An example of these deep and thought provoking lyrics comes from their track “Resurfacing”, ” On the surface, of the one we call belief. Underneath it, well comes the only thing I’ve lived for. That’s why you must believe me.”
Though they are quite innovative in their work, Fingertight by no means re-invent the modern rock wheel. Their material is tight, the band are on point, and the songs have a certain character; But as a whole it’s nothing that will boldly appeal to anyone already worn out by the multitude of bands currently languishing in this corner of the rock n’ roll genre. One could easily turn on a rock radio station and hear something similar to Fingertight.
Sure the album does have it’s strong points, unfortunately most of them seem come after the first half of the album where most listeners would have opted to get off the train. The momentum soon goes off the tracks near the end of the effort, especially when the seemingly ever-present aggression of new rock rears it’s ugly head on “Surface” – a track foolhardily resurrected from an earlier effort.
In the end, Fingertight’s music isn’t necessarily progress for music itself, but it is a huge leap for the band, “In The Name Of Progress” is definitely a fitting title when considering the body of work they have laid out on this offering. If you’re looking for modern rock music that doesn’t drill into your head and instantly make you tear the headphones off of you ears, or swear off the unoriginal fluff all together, Fingertight is the band for you.
