Riffuz - the new album!
We featured Riffuz a while back, so when I got in touch about his latest record, Global Bait, I was looking forward to seeing what he had been up to. Since I last checked out his stuff I’ve noticed that he’s released a cover of Metallica’s Sad But True, and has continued to push his sound out to the public, generating excitement through his guitar work and ability to combine melodies. Based on previous experiences, I was looking forward to seeing what he’d come up with for this latest record, so settled back, hit play and prepared myself for what I was about to hear.
Kicking into being with Buried Angel the album gets off to a solid start, initially fading into being before all of a sudden hammering into a guitar fuelled melee of distortion, in short, a good start. Kicking into a funky mix fuelled by riffs, hammering drums and a real sense of rumbling bass, the track assumes a position of catchy rock, the sort of thing that you know is going to go down a storm on the live scene, and the sort of thing which will stand Riffuz in good stead moving forwards. The catchy choruses are the key here, showing off his ability to write music as well as his understanding of melody and how to form songs. Devil’s Gambler follows much the same sort of recipe, initially fading into being before once again launching us into a riff fuelled melee of hammering guitar lines. There’s a real sense of 90’s style rock flowing through things here, whether intentionally or not, but it adds something extra into the mix. This differentiation of styles within tracks is something which is sure to set Riffuz in good standing moving forwards from here, and reason alone to check out what he’s got on offer.
Shock Doctrine marks a slight change in things, moving the style from the all out ‘balls to the wall’ rock and instead, taking a moment to think about what’s going on before kicking into the track. Showing off his Metallica influences through this one, it’s like a cross between Metallica and early White Zombie, the sort of thing which manages to sound heavy without sounding over bearing or over the top – something which is further evidence of his understanding of music as a whole. Social Frankenstein is another example of this, offering up a track which is powerful, deep, fuelled by distortion, and one which I’m sure to come back to time and time again. In my opinion, this track marks a serious high point on the record, and gives us yet another reason to be listening to this album – time to say get on it and check it out!
Continuing through The Secret Mr Hell, Lord Of The Grave, Blue Room and Brain In Box, we’re soon led onto title track Global Bait. Standing out as a serious, serious high point on the record, the title track here has everything you could possibly want from a track, from chunky guitar work through to hammering drum lines and soaring vocals. Showing once again that he’s fully aware of what he’s doing, how the music works, and what people want to hear, this track stands out as having single potential as well as being the title track – it’s an accomplished, professional sounding and well put together track, and another moment which you will need to checkout to believe.
Closing with Face Me we’re left on a softer note, Riffuz showing off his more melodic and chilled out side yet at the same time, managing to still form a track which people are going to embrace, return to time and time again, and recognise as one of his. Closing the album this track does what it should, brings the album full circle and leaves you knowing that you want to hear more.
I’ve been impressed by Riffuz since we first checked out his stuff, not only because of his music, but also because he is so genuine in his mission to simply make good music, and to help the world. This is a guy who has worked hard to develop this record, and believe me when I say it’s well worth a listen – so get out there and check it out.
To find out more about Riffuz, check out his Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Kicking into being with Buried Angel the album gets off to a solid start, initially fading into being before all of a sudden hammering into a guitar fuelled melee of distortion, in short, a good start. Kicking into a funky mix fuelled by riffs, hammering drums and a real sense of rumbling bass, the track assumes a position of catchy rock, the sort of thing that you know is going to go down a storm on the live scene, and the sort of thing which will stand Riffuz in good stead moving forwards. The catchy choruses are the key here, showing off his ability to write music as well as his understanding of melody and how to form songs. Devil’s Gambler follows much the same sort of recipe, initially fading into being before once again launching us into a riff fuelled melee of hammering guitar lines. There’s a real sense of 90’s style rock flowing through things here, whether intentionally or not, but it adds something extra into the mix. This differentiation of styles within tracks is something which is sure to set Riffuz in good standing moving forwards from here, and reason alone to check out what he’s got on offer.
Shock Doctrine marks a slight change in things, moving the style from the all out ‘balls to the wall’ rock and instead, taking a moment to think about what’s going on before kicking into the track. Showing off his Metallica influences through this one, it’s like a cross between Metallica and early White Zombie, the sort of thing which manages to sound heavy without sounding over bearing or over the top – something which is further evidence of his understanding of music as a whole. Social Frankenstein is another example of this, offering up a track which is powerful, deep, fuelled by distortion, and one which I’m sure to come back to time and time again. In my opinion, this track marks a serious high point on the record, and gives us yet another reason to be listening to this album – time to say get on it and check it out!
Continuing through The Secret Mr Hell, Lord Of The Grave, Blue Room and Brain In Box, we’re soon led onto title track Global Bait. Standing out as a serious, serious high point on the record, the title track here has everything you could possibly want from a track, from chunky guitar work through to hammering drum lines and soaring vocals. Showing once again that he’s fully aware of what he’s doing, how the music works, and what people want to hear, this track stands out as having single potential as well as being the title track – it’s an accomplished, professional sounding and well put together track, and another moment which you will need to checkout to believe.
Closing with Face Me we’re left on a softer note, Riffuz showing off his more melodic and chilled out side yet at the same time, managing to still form a track which people are going to embrace, return to time and time again, and recognise as one of his. Closing the album this track does what it should, brings the album full circle and leaves you knowing that you want to hear more.
I’ve been impressed by Riffuz since we first checked out his stuff, not only because of his music, but also because he is so genuine in his mission to simply make good music, and to help the world. This is a guy who has worked hard to develop this record, and believe me when I say it’s well worth a listen – so get out there and check it out.
To find out more about Riffuz, check out his Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Riffuz Navarro
I was recently added as a friend by a chap called Riffuz Navarro, a chap from Mexico who has been playing music since the age of 7! Starting his live career at the age of 10, he eventually moved onto guitar work at the age of 14, learning classical guitar and working to develop his sound. Now fully prepared to take on the world, Riffuz put me onto his track Blue Room and its official video to see what I thought of things. Describing the sound as Metal/Rock/Stoner and Progressive, this promises to be something well worth checking out, so I hit play to see what was going on!
As the track kicks in we’re launched into a dark world of melodic elements, the guitars leading the way into a rock centric track designed to get you listening and take on board what’s going on. Roving between hard hitting hard rock and more laid back, ballady style rock, this is a track which surprises at each turn. The vocals lead the way whilst the guitars back everything up, resulting in a track which satisfies that heavy urge, whilst at the same time managing to offer up a serious dose of melody to keep that musical urge satisfied. Even going so far as to add a guitar solo into the mix without allowing it to out do any of the other elements, this is a track which suggests good things to come from Mexico, and a band to be keeping an eye on.
I really like the stuff that Riffuz has got on offer here, it’s kind of rocky enough to make me want to see it live, but laid back enough to make me want to listen to it at home and chill out to it. I’ll be interested to hear the EP for full at some stage to see what the rest of the tracks are like for sure, and will be interested to see what comes next! In the meantime, check out the video for yourself below.
To find out more about the project, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
As the track kicks in we’re launched into a dark world of melodic elements, the guitars leading the way into a rock centric track designed to get you listening and take on board what’s going on. Roving between hard hitting hard rock and more laid back, ballady style rock, this is a track which surprises at each turn. The vocals lead the way whilst the guitars back everything up, resulting in a track which satisfies that heavy urge, whilst at the same time managing to offer up a serious dose of melody to keep that musical urge satisfied. Even going so far as to add a guitar solo into the mix without allowing it to out do any of the other elements, this is a track which suggests good things to come from Mexico, and a band to be keeping an eye on.
I really like the stuff that Riffuz has got on offer here, it’s kind of rocky enough to make me want to see it live, but laid back enough to make me want to listen to it at home and chill out to it. I’ll be interested to hear the EP for full at some stage to see what the rest of the tracks are like for sure, and will be interested to see what comes next! In the meantime, check out the video for yourself below.
To find out more about the project, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls