Well known for their lively performances, the Rah’s are making their way into music with a good ear for traditional rock with an alternative tinge.
Formed in 2011, the five-piece group are heavily inspired by some of the greats, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. While releasing one EP and a few additional tracks along the way, the Rah’s haven’t gotten the exposure they deserve. But its pretty evident in their newest single, “Survival.” that they’re treading in the right direction.
Plenty of artists have written a song under the title, but this single is an epic rock mantra. While the song is not particularly pointing towards anything meaningful per se, the lyrics were written around the epic riffs resonating on the track. When interviewed by Vents, they claimed there was nothing but the core of the instrumental (and a lot of beer) that inspired their lyrics. That said, the chorus, “I’m not your rival / This is survival,” consists of strong and catchy vocals nonetheless, hinting possibly of politics and warfare.
However, with the release of the track’s beautifully crafted music video a few days ago, the underlying political implications come to light.
The Rah’s, while breaking into their single with their own appearance, touches upon the potential ethics of warfare and violence, particularly as “It’s not your finger / That pulls the trigger” recurs throughout the song. To me, however, it’s all a bit vague; there isn’t enough insight from the group’s intent or sense of style to help me understand the song, but regardless, it’s a brilliant, addicting track, and MacLeod’s vocals are stunning. The music overall is a quality production, the spectacular drums, and the guitar performance stand out. The riffs are especially memorable.
Fans of traditional but modern rock, such as the Foo Fighters and The Strokes, like myself, will find The Rah’s a promising comeback to the genre, and I’m certainly pumped to see what more they have in store for us later this year. You can find them here on Youtube and Facebook for more updates!
