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Prize Fighter comes out swinging – every time; just listen to their most recent EP, Come Hell or High Water. Packed with seven pop-rock gems, each so unique, it’s hard to believe the Southern-Ontario based quintet were able to weave the album together so seamlessly.

Born as the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Zubin Thakkar (vocals/guitar) in 2001, Prize Fighter was at first nothing more than an untitled basement recording project fuelled by an old computer and a junky guitar. But with big ideas, come big sounds and it wasn’t long before Thakkar recruited a full band to bring the songs to life. Propelled by Mike Snyder (drums), Darren Thomas (keys/synth), George Carothers (guitar) and Justin Currie (bass), Prize Fighter took self-determination to the next level, maintaining a rigorous schedule of writing, recording and playing while carrying full-time university workloads.

With two previous EPs under their belt (selling over 2000 discs collectively), and shows alongside Can-Rock staples Hedley, The Trews, Thornley and even Kalan Porter, the band has developed a loyal fan base in Southern Ontario. Case in point: the nearly 450 fans that turned up at Prize Fighter’s sold-out CD release party for Come Hell or High Water.

Released in early 2007, Come Hell or High Water is a seven song knockout, co-produced by the band and driven by some of the catchiest hooks heard this side of pop music. It’s immediately apparent that Thakkar and Co. have trimmed the fat from their arrangements, meticulously crafting each track into a sleek, confident, radio-ready package.

The disc’s opener, ‘Fire & Snow’, is an upbeat dance rocker whose pace is set by a buzzing synth lead and a biting acoustic guitar. The album’s anthems ‘Hold on Tight’ and ‘No Reason or Rhyme’ mix the electro-pop sensibilities of The Postal Service with the alt-rock edge of Jimmy Eat World. But don’t let the record’s slick production trick you into thinking these boys are all digital 1’s and 0’s. The stripped down, up-tempo acoustic ballad, ‘Union Station’, exposes the band at its best, showcasing four part harmonies and a wistful lyrical hook compelling enough to coax even the most apathetic twenty-somethings into singing along. Not to be overlooked are the album’s gentler touches, ‘Anne Esthetic’ and the title track, ‘Come Hell or High Water’, a play-by-play of a crumbling relationship – the type that everyone’s been in but no one knows how to leave.

Prize Fighter’s live show packs a stylish punch, complete with sampling, four part harmonies and electronic drum breakdowns. Their infectious charm flows effortlessly from the stage, breaking down the walls between performer and audience; don’t be surprised to see the entire crowd clapping in four-to-the-floor fashion, singing ‘woah ohhs’ back to the band, and shaking their money makers in perfect synchrony.

In an age where listeners download and discard, opting for variety over consistency, Prize Fighter’s mixtape approach to song writing proves that a band can keep listeners hooked by re-inventing themselves from song to song. Couple that with a live show that’s brimming with energy, precision and arena-worthy rock-outs, and you’ve got a band that’s not just a serious contender, but one hell of a sure bet.

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