90s Grungy Hard Rockers Fish Hook Smile Reunite to Release Self-Titled Album
It all started back in 1991 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Vocalist Jason Busiek (also of Sea of Snakes and Desert Suns), guitarist Dan Policarpo, and drummer Ken McCray formed a band called Fish Hook Smile. In the summer of that year, the band's lineup got quite the overhaul when bassist Misha Avrushenko, guitarist Matt Lake, and drummer Bryan Pollard joined the group, with Matt Penky entering the fold a bit later on second guitar.
Fish Hook Smile burned bright and hot, harnessing the gritty energy of the time as they played their grungy post-hardcore songs in an unapologetically loud and unfettered manner. Sadly, all good things must come to an end and the band ultimately called it quits, but all the members readily agreed that the ride had ended far too soon.
Now, decades later, Fish Hook Smile are back with renewed energy, not only with the same lineup that they ended on, but with a brand-new full-length album in tow.
While millennials such as myself whose very heart and soul is still filled with the grungy vibes and misanthropic attitude of the 90s might giddily jump to the conclusion the Fish Hook Smile has returned for nostalgic purposes, that's far from the case. While the band's style and outlook were developed all those years ago, Fish Hook Smile now uses their "roots" as a lens through which to examine some of the standout plights of the modern era. In their own words, the band is "fueled by rage, urgency, and a desire to expose the uncomfortable truths most prefer to ignore."
Fish Hook Smile's self-titled album was released on September 5, 2025 via Glory or Death Records.
Fish Hook Smile (self-titled)
1.) Flashback
This song boasts a unique and undeniably catchy combination of murky trudge and jaunty hard rock strut.
2.) Chapter 13
Chapter 13 has a solid post grunge foundation with a dash of heavy blues to start, opening with a sultry and spiraling tone. Ultimately, the song takes flight on soaring vocals and some great guitar solos under a brightened riff.
3.) Shiver
Shiver was the first single that Fish Hook Smile released from the album, and it's a memorable choice. Raggedy bass, sludge-laden grungy melody, a bit of metallic crunch, and a flowing psychedelic undercurrent build to a burst of energy and feeling at the song's midway point. This surge of intensity makes perfect sense, as Shiver's lyrics tackle a contentious issue: "the unchecked power of leaders in our government". Further, this haunting track urges the listener to seek out the truth in an era in which honesty is a rare, invaluable treasure.
The official music video for "Shiver"
4.) Fields of Green
I knew that I was going to fall in love with this song by the twenty-five second mark, finding myself blissfully carried away on the contrast of ethereal guitar tones and reverberating bass. The song picks up with more of that warm, bluesy, heavy rock swagger for the choruses, but always returns to those dreamy verses that hooked me, even as they grow in intensity with each repetition.
5.) Blue Mace
Blue Mace changes the mood quite dramatically as it enters on electrifying, apprehensive guitar tones before barreling into some deliciously coarse stoner/desert riffs. A spiraling interlude two-thirds of the way in signals the return of the keyed-up, ominous guitar work before the stoner sounds come back twice as strong. These elements combined with Busiek's powerful grungy vocals allow Blue Mace to pack a ton of variety in just under three and a half minutes while making skillful use of building. This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.
6.) Humpty
Humpty brings some feel-good southern rock vibes that contrast nicely with the heavy, rumbling undertones of the song, a fusion that I remember often hearing in American grunge and post grunge back in the day. I always enjoyed that sound, finding it to deliver a palpable brightness and energy to the music. Lyrically, Humpty is a play on the English nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty, taking a tongue-in-cheek jab at the narcissism often displayed by those in positions of power.
7.) Ratstar
Ratstar was the second single released from the album, and its lyrics address the pressing issue of homelessness. The song begins in the most delightfully eerie way, with Busiek delivering a haunting vocal intro that beautifully channels the inner Layne Stayley that he's known for. While Ratstar does quickly pick up in tempo and groove, ultimately turning into an infectious grunge track, the undercurrent of darkness is undeniable, particularly noticeable in the murky density of the instrumentals.
The official music video for "Ratstar"
8.) Orchid
Orchid is the longest song on the album at over seven minutes, and the extended length seems to serve as a much-needed outlet for the pent-up emotion that accumulated throughout the previous tracks. Orchid is absolutely overflowing with unbridled feeling and features a flow to match as it very organically vacillates between gravelly, barreling riffs and more atmospheric textures before dropping off into a sea of distortion as it ends. In a nutshell, this is the perfect song with which to punctuate the intense, emotive journey Fish Hook Smile has taken us on.
Final Thoughts
First of all, this review was originally supposed to be a brief social media post. Then, I was generously given early access to the album by Fish Hook Smile and decided to write a "quick review". That quickly turned into the full-length, track-by-track breakdown and rambling love letter that you see here, and I think that alone speaks volumes as to what I think about the album.
When I first read the details of the album, describing a post-hardcore band from the early 90s whose material is inspired by hot-button issues and was fueled by angst, I have to admit I was expecting something a lot more predictable. What I got was quite the opposite: an album that encompasses just about every style and shade of the hard rock, alternative rock, grunge, and post grunge heyday of the 90s. And, as alluded to earlier, such a plain-spoken style is the perfect vehicle with which to express the aforementioned disgruntlement. While there are some whispers of stoner rock here and there, this is primarily a straight-up, super expressive, hard rocking album on which genre confines are of the least importance.
Along those same lines, Fish Hook Smile's album is undeniably and unabashedly honest, shining a much-needed light on some major issues that plague our world today, and the band accomplishes this in a digestible yet attention-grabbing manner.
Also, I'm thoroughly convinced that anything Jason Busiek touches turns to gold. I first heard his trademark ultra-powerful grunge vocals over the sinister doom stylings of Sea of Snakes, then soulfully howling over the sunbaked heavy blues of Desert Suns, and now displaying more nuances than ever in Fish Hook Smile. No matter which of these amazing bands he's standing in front of, Busiek always puts 110% of his soul into his craft, and it's discernible in every raw and passionate note of his ringing voice.
Finally, whether you came of age in the 70s, 80s, 90s, or beyond, the music of Fish Hook Smile is something that will resonate with everyone. Not only does the band delineate issues that impact us all, but their authentic, heavy sound is utterly timeless and will certainly implore you to stop, listen, and think.
More About Fishhook Smile
Fish Hook Smile is:
Jason Busiek - Vocals
Matt Pekny - Guitar
Bryan Pollard - Drums
Misha Avrushenko - Bass
Matt Lake - Guitar
You can follow Fish Hook Smile and listen to their music at the following links:
Comments
Post a Comment