Class-conscious British punks Rifle talk to K! about their love of playing live, overcoming being seen as a ‘novelty act’ and no longer needing to borrow cars to get to gigs…
Rifle might’ve started life on the underground punk scene, but they aren’t shy about having a global perspective. “We love playing live, and we love to go out together as mates,” begins vocalist Max Williams. “If we can do this and see the world, I couldn’t be given a greater privilege than that.”
Joined today by drummer Flynn Whelan, the aimable frontman is quick to remember their early tours, where Max’s dad’s car was their main mode of transport. “The first time, I don’t think he really knew until it was a bit too late. [He called me and I said] ‘Sorry, I’m on a ferry! I could reverse, but it’d be a bit wet…’”
Thankfully, the quintet – completed by guitarists Albert Dury and William Louis Bramwells, and Flynn’s brother, Ross, on bass – have since graduated touring in a van, on the road to releasing their debut self-titled album, which features everything from a guest spot from their friends in The Chisel (on Worthless) to the reverb-strewn, cacophonous Cease And Desist.
Not fitting in shouldn’t be a concern for any punk band, but Max acknowledges that it’s something he’s been conscious of at times, both when playing live and on a personal level.
“One thing I hate [is] having my accent taken the piss out of,” he says, referencing his Essex brogue. “There’s a lyric in No King: ‘The tone of my utter does not define me’ [because] the amount of people who have heard my voice and made an assumption about the level of my education and my upbringing is a bugbear for me.”
“I’d say Rifle is a very class-conscious band,” adds Flynn. “You have to realise, with all the Nigel Farage lot and these grifters, they really go for the working class to mess their heads up and then you still have the middle class that look down on them. The whole thing’s so divided and it is a mess. I’d say that comes across in your lyrics, Max.”
“Stop it, you’ll make me blush!” replies Max, finding some humour in all of this. The vocalist is also quick to acknowledge how, when Rifle play live, being the odd ones out is no bad thing.
“We’ve played some things where we were probably the novelty act,” he says, “but I think sometimes that goes in our favour. It’s good to play in front of people that wouldn’t necessarily go and see you. I want to do that.
“[Punk] showed me a world that I didn’t really know existed, especially in Harlow. They shut down [local venue] The Square and my heart goes out to all of these young people who don’t have a space to go and find themselves.”
The good news is, more and more people are finding their way to Rifle.
“I think a lot of current, mainstream punk is a bit buzzwordy,” admits Flynn, when the pair are pressed on what they see as their appeal. “Max’s lyrics are sincere.”
“I want whether people like us or not to be down to them,” concludes Max. “It’s always good to let the music do the talking.”
Rifle’s self-titled debut album is released on January 16 via YEAR0001
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