Track Review: “The Payoff” by Gutlocker

After the success of July 2022’s debut album “To Be Alive” you might have thought that Woking Groove Metal four piece Gutlocker might have sat on their laurels a little and milked it for all it was worth… but having played pretty much every dive bar, drive in, bolt hole and basement as well as Rabidfest since then, they’ve decided a new single is in order. Recorded and produced by Ross from Ross Walker Productions (Sore Teeth, Weaponry, Bitchin’ Hour) and mastered by Lewis Johns (Employed To Serve, Conjurer, Funeral For A Friend) from The Ranch House Productions, “The Payoff” is that that single.

Curiously, “The Payoff” isn’t actually a new song but one which has been around for at least five years having been played live and caught on camera during the touring cycle of their 2018 EP “Cry Havoc“. This is however a leaner, meaner and dare we say it, sharper rendition compared to the one you might have heard before. A mid tempo skull crusher with a bass line from Ben Rollinson that runs deeper than Jägermeister and has the off kilter, psycho killer vibes of “King For A Day… Fool For A Lifetime” era Faith No More, it’s one that has instant appeal in familiarity. Now you might think you know a vocalist having heard a sweet sixteen previously released studio cuts from them, both live and in the studio but here Craig McBrearty pushes himself in both vocal extremes. Some of the opening refrains find him sounding almost feral with the uncleans, going deeper and darker than we’ve heard him before but as if that wasn’t enough, there is a clean vocal moment that astounds. An essential part of a mid track drop off and then build back to crescendo, it’s something that gives the track a unique presence in the bands collection. Add to that the earworm riff from guitarist Pete Tucker that you’re going to find yourself humming at the most inappropriate moments and you have something that is the perfect antidote to life’s utter nonsense. Forget about rehab. Give us more! [8.5/10]