Grifter Keep it Simple
UK riff rockers Grifter understand. Life is complicated, and hey, sometimes music doesn?t need to be. Sure, we all love post-ambient blackened Viking drone with a subtle industrial influence, but every now and then you just want guitars, bass, drums, vocals, a beer and a groove. On their Catacomb Records extended player, The Simplicity of the Riff is Key, Grifter show there?s nothing wrong with rock for rock?s sake, resulting in a familiar yet refreshingly upbeat take on semi-Southern guitar-led ?70s-style jams.
Were it any longer, they might need something to break it up, but if Grifter?s focus is on simplicity — which according to the title of the release (and I see no reason for them to lie), it is — then they?ve got that down. Four songs, no lush intros or outros. In and out in about 16 minutes. The disc opens with a riff and closes with someone shouting, ?Fucking cunt,? in a charming British accent, leading to inevitable giggling. You get verses, choruses, bridges and endings. They supply the stoner groove, you supply the head bobs, everyone gets loaded and that?s the way it goes down.
Their last EP, 2008?s High Unholy Mighty Rollin? was a little thicker sounding in the guitars, but the less-metal and more-rocking vibe of The Simplicity of the Riff is Key works in the context of this clearer production. There?s a live barroom feel to opener ?The Voices? the band?s prior work just didn?t have. ?Blind Rat Swarm? keeps the tempo on pace, and ?Pendulum? brings a bluesier side for the punkish upswing of ?I, Jesus? to exploit as it finishes out the proceedings. And then it?s done. The end, see you next time.
That there are bands like Grifter hiding out in the forests of Britain can?t possibly be a bad thing, and if anyone out there needs their palette cleansed from the rigid complexities of the rock/metal underground (as we all do occasionally), here?s a power trio with a pint that?s got your name on it. Words like ?generic? and ?samey?? Don?t bother. Don?t over-think it. Grifter wants you to shut down your brain for 15 minutes and rock out. Doesn?t seem like such an unreasonable request. Simple enough.
Cheers for the write up…it’s cool that someone gets what we’re about…straight up heavy rock and roll to have a beer to. Glad you picked up on the live vibe, this EP, apart from a track of backing vocals done in one take the whole thing was recorded completely live…hence the shouting at the end!!!