End Season - The Rifle Volunteer Single Review

The Rifle Volunteer

Photo: Dominic Lipinski link

Single Review

First a question. What happens when five musicians from various hardcore bands get together and release their first single? Well in the case of The Rifle Volunteer it's definitely not what you would expect. Instead of creating a big old racket, this North London five piece have turned their talents to something much more interesting. What first hits you when their debut single 'End Season' starts is those vocals. The lead vocalist, Adam Symonds, actually sings rather than drunkenly mumbling into a microphone and hits notes that many singers can only reach in their wildest dreams. The easiest comparison to these vocals has to be Thom Yorke, with both conveying melancholy and emotion so skilfully when they sing.

The Radiohead comparisons continue with The Rifle Volunteer's brand of atmospheric pop sounding akin to mid-paced tracks on both 'Amnesiac' and 'In Rainbows,' particularly 'Knives Out.' Any band that achieves this, especially on their first single, has to be applauded. Where 'End Season' works so well is that it creates atmosphere and alludes to the epic but never falls into the trap of sounding cold and impersonal. A trap that several artists, particularly The Maccabees and Jack Penaté, have failed to avoid this year. The track is big and immersive but still sounds personal and human. Second track, 'No Home Behind the Trees,' shows that both 'End Season' is no fluke and The Rifle Volunteer are a band you should keep your eye on as they move towards their debut album.

Joel Crowley