Album Review: The Rifles

The Rifles: The Great Escape (679 Records)

1. Science In Violence
2. The Great Escape
3. Fall To Sorrow
4. Sometimes
5. Toerag
6. History
7. Winter Calls
8. Out In The Past
9. Romeo And Julie
10. The General
11. For The Meantime

Having been lucky enough to have stumbled across The Rifles after the release of their debut album, 'No Love Lost', in 2006 I was eager to hear their follow up and assess to what extent the Londoners had developed over the past couple of years.

With 'The Great Escape', The Rifles have stuck to the winning formula and who can really blame them when they keep churning out quality tunes. Emulating bands such as the likes of Hard-Fi, The Maccabees or The Pigeon Detectives, the quartet of cocky cockneys are on song again with their mix of acute reflections and raunchy riffs.

'Hit the queue for the bus
And then I join the line
Same faces for the last ten years of my life
See 'em more than my friends
I couldn't tell you their names
Shattered glass on the floor
Kids have run out of games'

This verse from 'Toerag' (my favourite track) typifies The Rifles ability to illustrate their resigned acceptance of daily routine and being stuck in a rut - 'Expect nothing changing except the name of the day' - much the same occurs on the haunting 'Out In The Past'.

There is also time for angry reflections on modern society, with 'Science Is Violence' and 'The General', and tracks with an incessant grind, like 'The Great Escape' (see youtube video below), 'Fall To Sorrow' and 'Sometimes' are well complemented by the tongue in cheek 'Romeo And Julie'.

All in all, a quality follow-up and one that'll be blasting in my ears for the next few days at least!

Top Track: 'Toerag'
Rating: 8/10