SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Class-Conscious Punk: Rifle on Community, Social Media & New Album

https://www.instagram.com/studentpagesmagazine/ Following on from the recent announcement of their much anticipated, vibrant and raucous debut self-titled album (set for release on 16th January 2026 via Year0001), host Izzy caught up with lead vocalist Max from London based band Rifle to discuss their latest music. Rifle have just released a brand new single and a brand new punk rock anthem, 'Worthless' featuring The Chisel. " 'Worthless' is one of the first times we’d bought more of an idea to the studio rather than a fully fledged song. The track came together great but felt as though it was missing a crucial ingredient that we just couldn’t put our finger on. As the recording day reached late afternoon we decided to call upon the help of our mate Cal Graham." "The Chisel are an instrumental part of our band’s career, playing our earliest shows and eventually touring with them, some of our highlights as Rifle have been shared with them. The back and forth vocals that came together in around less than hour really proved to be exactly what the track needed and has since become an absolute favourite of ours." Dragging gut-punch proto-punk through the byways of anarcho and UK pub rock, Rifle is the sound of revenge yelled by the damned sons of London's borderlands. These boys are battered, kicked in, cut loose, and furious. Initially, Max (vocals) and Ross (bass) bonded over music at their dead-end jobs, eventually meeting after work in Camden to commit sonic atrocities until the small hours. Rifle formed gradually like a demented social club, completing the lineup with Flynn (drums), Albert and Louis (guitar) as the party grew louder and more sordid with each session. After laying down some demos, it wasn't long before they found themselves supporting London group The Chisel, and Australian shed rockers The Chats, proving quickly that their bite is far worse than their bark. Since bludgeoning the European festival scene at Reading and Leeds, Venezia Hardcore Fest, Rebellion, and Sjock, Rifle have gone from strength to strength, always sharpening their edge for what comes next. When talking about their debut album, the band say, "As an album, RIFLE centres on the working-class experience. Some of the choruses and vocal hooks were inspired by the chants you’d hear on football terraces, with that natural sing-along quality. We also wanted to capture the sound and identity of being a London band, which I hope comes through on the album. A lot of the music we listened to while recording has a strong London identity. Groups like Cockney Rejects and Cock Sparrer may not have a big overlap in sound, but their lyrical focus and overall ethos definitely define them as London bands. That’s something we were aiming to achieve as well." "This album was our first time recording everyone’s parts separately. We made sure we were all actively listening to what everyone else had laid down, constantly offering suggestions and keeping the encouragement flowing. And of course, recording with Jonah, who produced the album with us, meant there was no shortage of ideas and support." Rifle's debut album will be released 16th January 2026 by Stockholm's YEAR0001 label. The self-titled LP evolves their sound with even more punch and screeching feedback. Rifle's political charge is stronger still, with No King, Protest and United State taking aim and harnessing their anarchic drive to destroy the hateful institutions around them.