Riffs, (repeated musical phrases/motifs) can be performed on most instruments and are present in variety of musical forms and genres, though they are predominantly associated with guitars and rock music. In the underground music scene a well crafted riff can be as crucial as a strong vocal melody, if not more so. Bearing this in mind, one can imagine the significant pressure placed on a band that incorporates the word "riff" into their name. Such a choice not only requires them to overcome the same challenges faced by any emerging band trying to gain some recognition but also demands they meet the expectations of their listeners regarding the quality of said riffs and refrains. Quebec's Riffchild, Louis Vaillancourt (vocals/bass), Enzo Chassé (drums), and Léo Duffard (guitar), are one such band whose chosen name is bound to create such expectations but they justify their name choice by delivering some of the grimiest, most distorted, and fuzz-laden riffs one could hope to find this side of an impending apocalypse, as you will no doubt discover for yourselves when giving their debut release, "Sun Will Follow." a spin.
Riffchild begin their musical assault on the senses with title track "Sun Will Follow", and when we say assault we really mean ASSAULT! Fuzz and distortion here are dialled up to almost breaking point on both guitar and bass with the accompanying drumming teetering on something well beyond thunderous. Now with this level of thunderosity things can get a little messy, and on occasions they do, but it is a glorious messiness off set with vocals that cut through the doomic miasma that surrounds them like a scalpel through rotting flesh, clean clear echoed tones that boast a slightly monastic quality. Vaillancourt sings of Earth's regeneration and rebirth in powerful ringing tones on next number "Arise" his voice wafting monastic and majestic over a backdrop of humongous dank groove made to feel even more humungous and dank thanks to Vaillancourt's own rumbling bass tones and Chassé's gigantic sounding drum patterns, the resulting groove enhanced and taken to another level by Duffard's dark crunching power chords and searing solos. Chassé uses his sticks to count in next track "Exile" and from there on in we go on a musical journey that starts life low slow and heavy but then gathers momentum as it progresses. The song boasts some highly impressive drumming from Chassé as well as great bass work and vocals from Vaillancourt but it is Duffard's lead work in the songs last quarter that is the real deal clincher here. Final song "Léthargie" is everything you could possibly want from a closing number on a release pitched at the doom end of the metal genre, brooding atmospherics, thick reverberating riffage, a variety of heavy rhythmic drum patterns, swirling solos and superb ethereal flavoured vocals. Take note any new band wondering how to close out their first recording, this is how it should be done!
Recorded live in
Riffchild's practice space, "
Sun Will Follow" is a remarkable release that captures the raw, loud, edgy, and uncompromising essence one might expect from a live on stage performance. Obviously there has been some mixing and mastering applied before presenting this four song collection to us, the great unwashed public, but not so much that it detracts from the three guys going at it hell for leather vibe this
EP so superbly evokes.
Check it out .....
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