Stiff Kittens are an alternative rock band from Blackwood, South Wales, whose catchy and anthemic riffs hail them as one of the most exciting Welsh bands since The Manic Street Preachers. Formed in 1996, Stiff Fingers are comprised of Gary Law on vocals/lead guitar, Steve Price on guitars/vocals and featuring Rob Rickenbacker Tucker on bass and Geraint HAC Thomas on drums.
Having released six albums; Progress (1998) Won’t Reach the Fifth (2000), Shadow Empire (2003), While you were a sleep… we changed the world (2007), The Raven Sessions (2007) and The Extinction Project (2010), Stiff Kittens are very much the established rock band. Having supported Thin Lizzy at Newport City Live Arena as well as Feeder at the Ross-on-Wye International Music Festival, Stiff Kitten’s popularity is growing from strength to strength.
What’s great about Stiff Kittens is, although they are loyal to traditional rock, their songs resonate with emotions, allowing it an easy transition into the classic ballad arena. With Law’s powerful and rugged vocals, Stiff Kittens are steeped with melancholy, yet remain very much a solid and robust rock band. With their skilful and intricate riffs, Stiff Kittens are reminiscent of early U2, mixed in with The Manics, whilst retaining an atmospheric edge of their own.
With songs such as Japanese Garden, you see how Stiff Kittens step out of their comfort zone, incorporating Storm effects likened to The Doors, creating a hauntingly beautiful backdrop for this belter of a song. Streaked with Horror-esque synth’s, Japanese Garden is infused with a contemporary twist. With its ruminating lyrics, Japanese Garden is poetically singed, whilst flourishing with an array of descending, crunchy and curling riffs. Along with the singular Slash-esque interludes, Japanese Garden illustrates the guitar dexterity and lyrical accomplishment of the band.
Again, with Sky Fall Down, Stiff Kittens illustrate their diversity and nimble-fingered skill as a band. Now drawing upon more heavy rock tones, Sky Fall Down wallows in more dark tones and whose more distorted vocals obscure against more menacing riffs. With a catchy chorus, Sky Fall Down’s intensity is loosened by the dual vocals that sweep past the zig-zag riffs.
While You were a Sleep, once again illustrates Stiff Kittens’ skill at creating a moody catharsis, that leans over to a power ballad, without being clichéd or jaded. It’s an infectious and heartfelt song, whose acoustic riffs play in juxtaposition against the swirly and tinny riffs. Lyrically raw, While You were a Sleep is the embodiment of a progressive rock, a sentimental song, without being overly mushy.
Comfort Blanket kick-starts with it’s Manics-esque intro, which continues to reverberate against with its quivering and shimmery riffs. Along with its interchanging rattle-bash drums, Comfort Blanket subtley elates and slams against the slanting bass. With fragments of U2, Comfort Blanket is one of those songs which sounds even better after a few listens, enabling you to digest and absorb the attentive lyrics.
What’s distinguished about Moth Collection is its drawn-out intro, which morphs into a windswept and textured guitar-drenched song. With its hammering drums and choppy and over-lapping riffs, Moth Collection flickers against the dusky backdrop. With its female backing vocals and suspended Bono-esque lead vocals, Moth Collection drizzles with emotion, intensified through the melancholic lyrics. It’s a captivating song, which encapsulates Stiff Kittens high calibre of guitar playing and lifting the bar for alternative rock.