Review
Scissorfight
Victory Over Horseshit

Tortuga Recordings (2006) Michael

Scissorfight – Victory Over Horseshit cover artwork
Scissorfight – Victory Over Horseshit — Tortuga Recordings, 2006

I'm going to jump right to the point; if you don't like rock-n-roll music, you're not going to like Scissorfight. This New Hampshire outfit plays gritty rock music - this is music for the blue collar working man. So if that is you, grab a case of your favorite beer, crack one open, and turn up the volume.

Victory Over Horseshit is a CD single to promote the band's upcoming full-length release. On this disc we get two songs from that album, two unreleased tracks, and a hard to find song. The disc opens with the title track, a rock-n-roll jam that is equal parts of influence from Clutch and Fu Manchu, but with a slight metal edge to it. Factor in a super catchy chorus, and it's hard not to sing along. "86 Sucker," the other new track, has a definite southern-rock tinge to it - ZZ Top is no doubt an influence - though it is a bit more straightforward in its approach. And while it may be written in a traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus formula, it's by no means corporate radio rock.

Scissorfight hit us with two previously unreleased tracks. The first, "Sun Hunt" is lead by crisp riffs and, gasp, a clean singing Iron Lung. This change caught me a little off guard, but after a few listens the stylistic change didn't phase me anymore. Overall I found this song to have a slight Queens of the Stone Age feel to it. Well, the first QOTSA record that is. "Rules are Different for Dead Men" is a rager of a song and classic Scissorfight doing what they do best. The single closes out with "Transcontinental," a track that was available on the limited Champions of Sound Tour 7". And while this song was originally released a couple of years ago, it fits well on this single as it blends the aggressive dirty-rock upbringing and the recent mainstream leanings of the band.

Scissorfight have made a few adjustments since they last checked in, the most notable being that their sound has become a bit more accessible. The songwriting is a bit more straightforward and akin to mainstream radio rock. This isn't really a bad thing, though some longtime fans of the band might consider this move selling out. My suggestion is to ignore them and just rock out.

7.5 / 10Michael • February 7, 2006

Scissorfight – Victory Over Horseshit cover artwork
Scissorfight – Victory Over Horseshit — Tortuga Recordings, 2006

Related news

Scissorfight Vocalist Announces Art Show

Posted in Music News on October 17, 2007

Mess With The Bull (Ex-Scissorfight) Post Demos

Posted in MP3s on January 2, 2007

Scissorfight Tourdates

Posted in Tours on March 21, 2006

Recently-posted album reviews

The S.E.T.

Self Evident Truth
Flatspot Records (2026)

Hardcore doesn’t need reinventing; just needs conviction. On Self Evident Truth, Baltimore’s The S.E.T. come out swinging with a debut EP that’s built on exactly that. It’s got groove, urgency, and a clear sense of purpose. Clocking in at around fifteen minutes, the EP wastes no time establishing its identity. From the opening moments of “This Chain,” it’s all forward … Read more

Dashed

Self Titled
Independent (2026)

When a band describes themselves as surf punk, it usually conjures a certain image. Reverb drenched guitars, sunburnt melodies, maybe even a sense of looseness that leans more carefree than chaotic. Dashed doesn’t really fit that mold. On their self-titled LP, they take those familiar elements and run them through something colder, sharper, and far less predictable. Across eleven tracks, … Read more

The Sleeveens

National Anthem
Goner (2026)

National Anthem is the second album from The Sleeveens, a Nashville, TN band fronted by an Irishman. The band play that perfect mix of protopunk and classic rock 'n' roll that's built on a verse/chorus/verse structure and melody without any frills. It's leather jacket music for the common folk. The debut grabbed me by my collar and spun me around … Read more