"Fightstar is rapidly becoming a convincing part of the post-hardcore firmament and rock fans are jumping on board. Their debut They Liked You Better When You Were Dead raises eyebrows and seeing them scowling and lurching about a sweat-stained stage removes all doubt. This is the real fucking deal. The interaction between Simpson and Westaway is the backbone of the band. Often trading vocals (most notably to best effect on the goosebump-inducing gem Amethyst) the ease with which they operate makes it seemingly unfathomable that this is a new, fresh band. Fightstar's debut is great. Brilliant, in fact." - Kerrang

"At a time when post-hardcore's torch seems to have been almost completely passed to succeeding generations of screamo bands, Fightstar stand firmly enough on the mother country of their genre to do well by the legacy of groups like Fugazi and Helmet. Vocalists Al Westaway and Charlie Simpson utilize a distinct sound that reaches total catharsis. The two share a fantastic vocal range, adding emotional complexity and balance through their arrangements. Train-like guitar work also adds strength to the record, creating drama and tension in the key moments. The driving force behind most of the songs, however, is the rhythm section. The tight bass lines and tighter drumming on They Liked You Better are what lead each track through its arc, shirking convention when things start to get cliched." - Allmusic

"On the strength of They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, Fightstar clearly demonstrate that they can hold their own in a world of heavy, emotional rock. Anyone who likes Muse, Biffy Clyro, Radiohead and even Scissorfight will find something to be absorbed in here. While Palahniuk's Laughter and Speak Up are the rabble rousing anthems, Amethyst is a beautifully crafter power ballad and Mono brings everything to a brooding gigantic climax. Brilliantly executed." - Rock SoundRock Sound

"Fightstar seem to have keyed into what makes a great indie rock band on They Liked You Better When You Were Dead. Fightstar really capture that mid-90's feel of post hardcore and great indie rock. The first song Paint Your Target showcases a band at its most confident with HUGE choruses and a prowess for heaviness when it is necessary. Provided that Fightstar can come over here and tour, we may be onto something very exciting and honest. Lord knows we need some honest music over here." - Status

"After listening to Fightstar, I can't help but think back to the first time I heard Thursday's Full Collapse. At that point I had never heard melodies so emotionally-charged with such a white-knuckled intensity. Hundreds of bands attempted to sing and scream their way into the hearts of everyone who was touched by that record, but it never reached the same level. Almost never: Fightstar has accomplished something similar, not by attempting to recreate earlier magic, but by creating something new that gives that same feeling of awe that only special albums have. When Fightstar turns it on, the veins bulge and all of a sudden you feel as helpless as a small animal in the palm of its hand. My bones rattle at its will. I've heard more bands attempt this than I care to remember. You can't do this sort of thing with some bad screaming and obligatory melodic parts. It can't be taught; it has to be genuine, and Fightstar do it better than anyone else I've heard in the past two or three years." - Wreck The Place

"This is amplified to rock! Fightstar's post-hardcore rhythmic drive will take you back to the good ol' 90s. You remember...the sounds that were influenced by the hard-edged dynamics of Quicksand but with smoothed-out rhythms. It may be less cutting, but it's still as exciting. Fightstar toys with this thundering formula without letting go of the lightning that makes it so damn electrifying. They have created a sound all their own. They Liked You Better When You Were Dead is a solid debut that contains enough crunching melodies and towering walls of guitars to hook any receptive ear. Even when Fightstar slows the pace your interest isn't lost. Songs like Palahniuk's Laughter and Paint Your Target will leave lasting impressions. Sweet, melodic aggressiveness just the way I like it. This will definitely put a big smile on your face." - Fake Train

"Fightstar teeter on the border of post-hardcore and mainstream rock. At times on their debut They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, Fightstar sound like counterparts to Switchfoot; other moments evoke memories of Armor for Sleep or Sunny Day Real Estate. Fightstar keep their melodies in the forefront and the heavy guitars not far behind, with high budget production through and through. Fightstar is a worthy listen." - Exclaim

"Fightstar's guitars take flight on They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, soaring to tremendous heights with harmonic lushness and catchiness while Charlie Simpson and fellow vocalist Alex Westaway sound like a mixture of Fugazi, Thursday and Jimmy Eat World. With breakdowns that are every bit hardcore, Fightstar morphs into a post-hardcore band for the ages that write timely melodies and thoughtful lyrics. Emotional hard rock this good deserves to be on the top of all the charts." - Smother

"On the basis of They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, there's no better place for Fightstar than Deep Elm. If nothing else, this debut proves that Fightstar has got what it takes to mix it with the likes of Thursday and Thrice. The band is trying to help bring about a new society in which the weak-ass side of kiddie-pop finally dies a death and is replaced by an increasingly more credible alternative. We salute you!" - New Noise

"Fightstar boasts the writing ability of artists who have been making this style of music for years. Maybe it's because of Charlie's pop knowledge or just pure talent, but They Liked You Better When You're Dead is likely to have both diehards of heavy rock music and the kids enjoying it equally. The music is catchy, lacks pretension and is highly listenable. It makes the listener feel relaxed despite the heaviness and underlying influences on the record. Overall this album should help Fightstar gain crucial footing in the U.S. and will bolster their back catalogue for future listeners." - Pennyblack Music

"This is one hellova debut for Fightstar. Call it post hardcore, emo rock or whatever, I'm loving They Liked You Better because the band keeps it all interesting with their equally soothing and rocking moments. For me they sound like a mix of Radiohead, Thursday and even Nirvana. Simpson and Westaway switch up vocal duties within the same song with brilliant east. Standouts for me are the awesome Paint Your Target, Speak Up and Amethyst. This album kinda reminds me of a Tasmanian Devil: cute enough to want to give it a hug and pat, but you know the fucker's got razor sharp teeth." - Pee

"Fightstar knows how to write some huge songs and how to combine rock with post-hardcore. The result are gems like Palahniuk's Laughter, Speak Up or any of the other seven songs on They Liked You Better When You Were Dead. The wall of sound that comes from the guitars, the fluid bass lines, the powerful, tight drumming and the dual vocals of Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway... all of these things lift Fightstar to a level a lot of other bands can only dream of. If you are into Hundred Reasons, Quicksand, Rival Schools or any other amazing post-hardcore band, then I urge you to check out Fightstar." - Punk Rock Theory

'Fightstar's game is powerful, melodic hard rock. At times massive and at times brittle, these guys have their post-hardcore tendencies down pat on They Liked You Better When You Were Dead. Fluid bass-lines, tight drumming and wall-of-sound guitar playing keep its rhythm section as the main focus with the dual vocals of Alex Westaway and Charlie Simpson serving as a admirable guides along the way. I'm searching for a deficiency worth mentioning about They Liked You Better, but all I'm coming up with are blanks. Dramatic, deliberate and chock full of depth, Fightstar deliver a monolithic performance that stands out brilliantly on a label already known for delivering one fantastic release after another." - Pastepunk

"When you sign to Deep Elm Records, it must pretty much confirms that your band is good. The label has wasted no time in snapping up young hopefuls Fightstar to release their debut They Liked You Better When You Were Dead. After a few spins, it's easy to see that Fightstar have put out a fantastic debut effort, kicking things off with their hit Paint Your Target and following on strongly from there. The dynamics of the vocals is the band's strongest point, with Westaway and Simpson trading off duties over melodic yet heavy chugging guitars. I challenge you to not be impressed. They Liked You Better When You Were Dead proves that Fighstar has a lot to give and bags of talent to share with the post-hardcore scene. I expect we'll be seeing bigger things from Fighstar in the near future." - Pure Music

"The newest addition to the flawless Deep Elm family is Fightstar. They Liked You Better When You Were Dead consists of hook after hook, catching the ear of the unexpecting. I personally feel Fightstar is perfecting a new form of rock with a lot of modern elements and more. This is a sickeningly addictive record. From start to finish, Fightstar will have you hanging on every word and note. The band is definitely some of the best talent of their genre in a long time. Fightstar is long overdue, but now that it's here, get your ass to a record store and buy this!" - Review4u

"The tracks on They Liked You Better When You Were Dead are by no means short, but the confidence shown by Fightstar is enough to make time fly by like nothing else. If I could only give one word when reviewing this record, I would have to say 'expansive.' Fightstar has a full style, which means that even simple introductions transcend any expectations in the enjoyment one draws from the songs. With nary a mistake to slow down the momentum, Fightstar is worthy of AP's 100 Bands You Need To Know. They Liked You Better is not only catchy, but enthralling; Fightstar will undoubtedly be on major stages in the United States for years to come." - Neufutur

"They Liked You Better When You Were Dead gets you singing along, it gets you rocking out and it evokes a lot of emotion, which is a testament to the members of Fightstar. This album is a solid release with some truly cracking songs on it. Paint Your Target urges a response from you; Mono leads you along the garden path before finally pummeling you brutally in the head until you're dead. That's a good thing on this occasion. If you are unfamiliar with Fightstar's earlier works, this is a definitive starting point." - Die Shellsuit Die

"They Liked You Better When You Were Dead delivers. Articulate rage, barbed guitars and epic choruses recall the likes of Thursday or Brand New. Palahniuk's Laughter floors the listener with a mammoth-rolling riff. Speak Up builds into walls of noise and anguished vocals. The six and a half minutes of Mono are simply majestic, featuring barely audible swirling guitars and whispered vocals that grow into a momentous, bludgeoning roar. Simpson and Westaway play like they have been in the same band for years, weaving intricate soundscapes and dark passages of crushing noise. Stunning post-hardcore." - Kerrang

"Through passionate musicianship that's equal parts serenading melody and jarring punch, Fightstar unleash a welcome roundhouse kick to the face of overly sensitive emo rock, triggering crying fits and bloodying scarves. Paint Your Target starts the disc with shimmering introductory notes before being deflowered by unsavory distortion and chord progressions. Palahniuk's Laughter jets out of the gate with brutalizing aggression before breaking down to contemplative melody and Charlie Simpson's raspy vocals. Amethyst strolls in with its spacey, haunting guitar effects, giving the disc an added element of depth and opening up the affair to the more ethereal side of things; that is, until the soaring chorus kicks in with huge hooks and big guitar. Speak Up features the biggest and ballsiest stop n' go waves of guitar that crest and fall while the simple rhythms of Until Then get complicated as tempo changes swing in and an engaging breakdown takes over. Throw in the iridescent Cross Out the Stars and sparkling Mono, and another up-tempo rocker in Hazy Eyes and call it an impressive debut. Deep Elm has found another outstanding band. The other side of the pond may have heard em first, but the States have the potential to really break these guys. Fightstar is on top of their game. Get on top of picking it up." - Aversion

"Fightstar provides an intense take on post-hardcore punk rock. With impeccable timing, the songs often explode into a fury of chasmic guitars and booming drums, creating a genuine and gratifying record. They Liked You Better When You Were Dead is a well produced debut from the boys from London. It's very well-polished, but then the band manages to keep an edge that will keep the hard rock fans satisfied. I especially liked the songs Lost Like Tears In Rain and Hazy Eyes. Fightstar proves it can hold their own in the mellow end of the spectrum with the leisurely slow-build of Mono then consequently rips your ears off four minutes later in the very same song. I feel that Fightstar is well on its way to becoming big in North America. I am excited to see how the band evolves and where it take its music to next." - Punk United

"Well produced and catchy without being contrived or cheesy, songs like the huge sounding Paint Your Target and Palaniuk's Laughter sound even bigger when paired next to each other on Fightstar's debut. It's undeniable that Simpson can sing. As the CD progresses the songs grow less poppy, but no less catchy. Fightstar maintain that heavy rock sensibility on tracks like Speak Up that makes them different from the vapid masses of black hoodie wearing kiddos. The the album ends on a Fightstar high note: the pretty Mono which settles you in perfectly for the end of the CD. All in all this is a good and well constructed and will make you give Fightstar the props they rightly deserve. They've paid their dues and now they're coming to collect." - Burn Burn

"Musically, Fightstar is a welcome breeze in the musty rock music scene. They skillfully pull off the soft / loud tradeoffs, but Fightstar keeps its loudest moments immediately behind the threshold of screamo, relying instead on raspy, emotionally-charged exclamations that threaten to crack and break but maintain their aural cohesiveness. The instrumental work follows the same cues as the vocals, effectively rotating between chugging guitar riffs and muted strumming with perfectly precise drum work to underline everything being played. Yet there is an extraordinary amount of variation between songs. Fightstar do a fine job of maintaining a distinct sound while avoiding simple restatements of previous tracks. Fightstar has created a record that presents a fresh take on a seemingly-forgotten style, and the results are quite intriguing. Check this one out." - Upbeet Music

"Featuring the unbelievably good Lost Like Tears In Rain, ferocious single Palahniuk's Laughter and the magnificent, heartfelt closer Mono. Each song is greeted with a rapturous applause. There are many times, particularly in Palahniuk's Laughter and Mono that one can lose themselves in the ocean of sound Fighstar creates. It's going to be interesting to see where Fightstar go next." - Heathen Angel

"They Liked You Better When You Were Dead can't be faulted. Perfect melodies, vocals that will melt your teenage heart and a six-and-a-half minute post-hardcore masterpiece Mono." - Morningstar

"Impressive...a perfectly formed victory." - NME

"This will send them supernova." - The Star