Grifter - The Simplicity of the Riff is Key EP

More bands should do EP’s. It’s like one side of an album, perfect to get acquainted with a new band. The Simplicity Of The Riff Is Key from the UK’s Grifter is their latest. 4 songs in 16 minutes delivered lean and mean with no filler. And it was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs! Grifter is a standard power trio heavy rock band that describes themselves as “noisy and righteous.” What’s not to love about that?

“The Voices” borrows heavily from Cactus’ 1971 arrangement of the Howlin’ Wolf classic “Evil” but that’s never a bad thing. Cactus rocks! Grifter remind me kind of a cross between Cactus and Humble Pie. Guitarist/vocalist reminds me a bit of Peter Frampton from his Pie days, especially on “Blind Rat Swarm.” If you like Humble Pie’s “Big Black Dog” you’ll dig this song.

“Pendulum” is the longest song on the EP, clocking in at 5 minutes, and is also the heaviest. The guitar riff is indeed simple and gives the rhythm section of Phil (bass) and Foz (drums) plenty of room to shine on this Black Sabbath/Blue Cheer hybrid. EP closer “I Jesus” is by far my favorite song of the 4. ZZ Top’s 1970’s output is some of my favorite music and this is pure Texas boogie.

Grifter just did a UK tour with Ripple favorites Sun Gods In Exile. That must have been a killer double bill for the 40 or 50 people that saw it. Life is too short to waste time on the lightweights. If you’re in a hurry and need to kick a lot of ass in a short period of time, get this and get to it.


--Woody


Buy here: http://grifter.bigcartel.com/

http://www.myspace.com/grifterrock