Nifters
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If This One Becomes a Hit, I Swear I'll Kill Myself
published: 9 /
7 /
2007
Label:
NZW Records
Format: CDS
Cliched and overtly polished hadcore from Swedish group, the Nifters
Review
When I glanced over the words "Swedish", "Hardcore", and "chaotic punkrock" in their press sheet, thoughts of the Refused and Millencollin sprung to mind so I was instantly interested. ‘If This One…’ is, however, one of those songs that manages to have you fall in love with it, question that love, fall out of love and dislike it intensely and all in the space of your first listen.
It starts well with some well produced and polished sounding guitars, which while maybe not being reminiscent of the Refused do of HIM and that’s cool. Then the chorus kicks in and it starts sounding a little too polished and a bit Evanessence, or that band from Finland where the guy had feather’s in his hair. You know, ‘uuuhh uuuhhhoooohh’ etc. Oh yes, the Rasmus. Any thoughts of Millencolin at this stage were well and truly out the window. My optimism had faded quite quickly and I began to dislike it. I really do not like to say negative things about songs by up and coming bands, who are for the meantime out of the realms of the ‘mainstream’ but I simply could not lie about this.
By the time the song got to the break down and I thought ok, well, I’ve heard better but I’ve heard worse, they decided to do a key change. A key change? A fucking key change. In my opinion when your band does this, you might as well put down your instruments, pull up a stool, get out the hair straighteners and prepare for your TV slot of early Saturday evening on ITV.
Singer Mats Larsson either has limited English skills or cannot sing that well for this type of music. If the Nifters were, however, doing straight up punk rock, as I am led to believe they originally set out to do his voice would be perfect. He has a slightly gravelly quality to his voice, but when it is mixed with sheen, clean and well produced guitars it just doesn’t quite work and if anything ends up letting the whole thing down.
I would love to hear more, so these guys can prove me wrong and keep the Swedish punk rock flag held high, but purely based on this song I highly doubt their credibility. The fact that half the band has been replaced since their inception only furthers to add to this theory.
Track Listing:-