Three Strikes and You're Out Review

Three Strikes and You're Out by GRIFFEN HANDSHAKE is a nineties-inspired rock adventure full of energy and pep from start to finish. The project utilises a wide variety of guitar techniques from rhythmic strumming that supports the rhythm and melody at the same time, to emotive and meticulous lead guitar. In certain tracks, the lead guitar takes on a life of its own, exploring ineffable emotional moments that couldn’t be articulated through words.

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The way the guitar flows around the melody across the project gives it a personality of its own and emphasises the important narrative moments introduced by the vocals. The vocals themselves root the project to its nineties influences. The hyper-confident delivery and poppy effects give the track a vintage edge reminding me of Avril Lavigne. There is a self-aware contrast between the boldness of the delivery and the subtlety of the melody, giving its nineties flair a modern twist. Existing somewhere between neo-vintage and modern, the project creates a unique and timeless sound through its variety of influences. The use of synth is also a fantastic choice. It provides a textural separation between the traditional rock-pop choices of vocals and guitar layers. Its fuzz and crunchy distortion have a cathartic feel that adds tonality and cuts through the otherwise crisp-sounding timbre. They can explore a different melodic landscape to other aspects of the track, delving into the lower end of the composition while also pushing this nineties nostalgia. The execution reminded me a little of Running Around by Buddy Ross or the crackle of a Duster track. The timbre on the guitar is crisp and smooth. It feels like the backbone of the album sonically. On Kicking Rocks in particular, the strumming rhythm guitar takes centre stage. It’s excellent to see all these different elements come together so coherently from the beginning of the project to the end.