Grifter – Grifter

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Following the mantra laid down in the title of their 2010 EP, The Simplicity of The Riff Is Key, UK stoner rockers Grifter build every one of their songs around monstrously grooving, simple riffs and smooth southern vocals. Something akin to Clutch jamming with Kim Thayil. Several songs, including opener Good Day For Bad News, Preacher And The Devil and Alabama Hotpocket and simply jammed with big riffs, and even when they go for an acoustic blues track to close with Gone Blues they can’t help but groove. Occasional references to their influences are dropped into the lyrics (for example a “yowza” at the end of Good Day For Bad News recalls Guns N’ Roses and Black Sabbath‘s Sweet Leaf is quoted during Strip Club), while obvious musical nods to Kyuss and similar are prevalent throughout. What gives the record such a impact soundwise is the flawless mix by Rich Robinson (not the Crowes one), which brings a rumbling bass and prominent drums fully up alongside the guitar, but without any one of them overpowering the other, which is something so many producers get wrong. Many of these tracks need not be taken too seriously, but that doesn’t stop Grifter from being just about the best stoner rock band in England right now, with no sign of running out of riffs yet.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Albums, Quick.Play Reviews, Stoner, Grifter