Canadian Rifle – Facts EP (Residue Records)
Canadian Rifle is a three piece from Chicago whose gruff melodies and muddy guitars often land them comparisons to bands like Leatherface and Dillinger 4. Those comparisons are fair enough—the similarities are certainly present more often than not on this EP—but I get more of a Dischord a la Rites of Spring vibe than anything else with these three songs.
Canadian Rifle – Facts EP (Residue Records)
Canadian Rifle is a three piece from Chicago whose gruff melodies and muddy guitars often land them comparisons to bands like Leatherface and Dillinger 4. Those comparisons are fair enough—the similarities are certainly present more often than not on this EP—but I get more of a Dischord a la Rites of Spring vibe than anything else with these three songs.
Side A’s track, “Blank Trade,” blends a driving, relentless drum beat with a dissonant, falling-action chord progression. The result is a restless but subdued tone. It reminds me a lot of a faster version of Canadian Rifle’s mid-western neighbors, The Arrivals. It’s not incredibly catchy, like some of the latter band’s material, but it doesn’t need to be as the guitar work is interesting enough to keep your ears pricked for the entirety of the track.
Side B brings two more tracks, “Choke on Foam” and “Historic Landmark.” “Choke on Foam” calls up much more of the Leatherface comparison that gets made so often. It’s faster than the A side, and a bit catchier, but also more straightforward, with a simpler structure. “Historic Landmark” has a bit more of a bluesy feel to it, and its chord changes feel spastic and jagged. It’s fast and hectic and never lets you settle in, pinning you on the ropes from the get-go and never letting up. Together, the two songs provide a nice one-two punch to give a swift and potent end to this great little EP.
