#therifles

23/10/25

By Gavin Tate

Artist Overview  

The rifles were formed in Chingford, North London in 2004, when lead singer Joel Stoker and lead guitarist Lucas Crowther met at Redbridge college a year earlier. The duo who were inspired by Oasis and the famous Knebworth concert which they both attended decided to start their own band, setting out to sound similar to their heroes. After adding bassist Rob Pyne, who Stoker knew from school and drummer Grant Marsh , the line up was complete. The band's first live gig followed swiftly at The Bull & Gate pub in Kentish Town, London. 

 The band's first official release was a 7" demo of "Peace & Quiet" released by Blow Up Records. The band switched to fellow independent label Xtra Mile Recordings for their May 2005 release of the single "When I'm Alone", which would go on to reach number 64 in the UK charts. Later that year the band's next single "Local Boy" would be released via Right Hook Recordings. It would get airplay on the Saturday morning show Soccer AM and would help give the band more exposure and even help them become regular guests on the show. The Rifles released two singles, "Repeated Offender" and "She's Got Standards", ahead of the 17 July release of their debut album No Love Lost, which peaked at 26 in the UK charts, which the album since becoming a collector's item for many indie fans. On the back of the success of the album release, the band were asked to support idol , Paul Weller (formally of The Jam) for the 'Modfathers' gig at the forum, London in 2006 before a hand full of european festival appearances propelled the band on to greater things. 

To date, the band have released a further four albums with third album titled ' None the wiser' peaking highest in the UK charts at 21. 

 Track Review  

The Rifles- Great Escape. 

Over the years The Rifles have adopted the 'If it's not broken, why fix it' approach to music. This approach has remained steady throughout their thirteen years of the band . With a hardcore , loyal fan base that continues to capture new audiences, you know exactly what you're getting from the darlings of indie/mod scene music, who draw huge comparison to The Jam. 

  Describing the new material in an interview in 2009, The band admitting that they wanted to be more ambitious with the writing and wanted to  become even 'bolder' and write songs deeper about life and the struggles as well as using a string quartet for the first time. However the sound still holds all of the positive notes and clever guitar licks previously heard of debut album 'No love lost'.  

The title track of the album starts with a punchy, raw intro courtesy of Lucas Crowther's lead guitar and Grant Marsh's drums before front man Joel Stoker's powerful vocals kick in. The track itself tell a positive story about life, how it's never too late to take a gamble, don't be afraid to not settle for the normal, unaspiring life and to make a change for the better. The catchy chorus which is up-lifting sums the track up perfectly, '"Waiting for the day, you're not looking for something else...". Further lyrics such as ; "Don't let your day grow long before it comes a week, Go and make a change before the big sleep" which ends the song fittingly, leaving the listener with a positive impact which will make you all evaluate your own road lives, with the track setting the scene for the rest of the album.