East Lancashire Punk Rock four piece The Rafters come blistering into 2025 with their first single in 12 months!
Since their first single release back in 2019, The Rafters have released nine singles (approaching 20k Spotify streams), had their debut single feature on iconic football programme Soccer AM, shared a stage with indie legends The View, played Blackpool’s March of The Mods and earned praise from Jonny Brown (Twisted Wheel) for single Murder Mile commenting “these guys know how to make a tune and play a gig”.
Having seen 2024 start off in fine form with the release of Glow, their plans stalled owing to life commitments.
Now they are back determined to make up for lost time and light up 2025.
GiMM!CK is a sharp, frenetic track that exemplifies the bands knack of offering social critique of modern Britain, set against a back drop of infectious rhythms. Clocking in at just over 3 minutes it’s a succinct look at the emptiness and superficiality that defines contemporary life.
Musically GiMM!CK, thrives off its driving rhythm section and relentless energy. The infectious guitar riffs set the tone, complemented by dynamic drumming, which is a driving force throughout and a baseline that has a resemblance to Teddy Picker by Arctic Monkeys. The rhythm section is locked in tightly and it’s impossible to resist, allowing the vocals to take centre stage, without overpowering the other instrumentals, snarling and spitting their way through the song as the anger of modern Britain comes pouring out.
The lyrics are biting, pondering why today’s role models are online influences who have no obvious talent other than pulling pranks in supermarkets, drinking hot sauce or eating raw chicken. Which new ‘gimmick’ will emerge so the next influencer doesn’t have to work again. The songs outro takes a swipe at biblical figures and really amplifies the songs theme of manipulation, exploitation and a desperation for power.
GiMM!CK is a compelling anthem, packed with razor sharp lyrics and raw energy. Its song that will get your moving but also thinking, and rally emphasises the fact that The Rafters are afraid to tackle the absurdities of modern life.
GiMM!CK is released on Friday 17th January on all streaming platforms.
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