We’ve spotlighted Shaven Primates a few times on these pages before, having covered previous releases like Birds Aren’t Real and Chasing The Dragon (we also featured them in one of our metal round-up reviews). Now the darkwave band returns with a brand new EP called Kill The Algorithm – it may only feature four tracks, but it sees the band taking aim at several meaningful topics, including digital and social media manipulation, racism and the concept of radicalism. It’s a little heavier than their previous releases, seeing the band fuse an aggressive sense of 70s-style punk grit with atmospheric art-rock synths and even hints of grunge and alt-rock, creating a record that feels both urgent and unapologetically human.
By Jane Howkins
Saviour opens with a funky guitar lick, making for a tense and almost claustrophobic atmosphere, right off the bat. The vocals sound a little hidden in the sound at times throughout the EP (although I think this may be purposeful), but it all sounds great still, due to the spiraling guitar riffs, thunderous drums and raw 90s style alternative rock/grunge sound. Lyrically, Saviour tackles humanity’s desperate search for external fixes to internal brokenness, using the dynamic vocal shifts to create a soaring, anthemic chorus that will have you singing along in no time.
Next up is yet another banger of a tune – Pioneer Way. On this track, Shaven Primates really manage to inject a furious surge of late-70s punk/garage rock energy. Here, the band turn their sights on the serious topics of workplace exhaustion, racism and the rise of nationalism and media manipulation in modern Britain. The band manage to deliver a set of killer guitar riffs over the fast rhythm, whilst the vocals snarl with a series of biting satirical lyrics about the previously mentioned topics.
Feed continues the heavy assault on the ears (I mean that in a positive way!), adding a proggy, metal-influenced sound that works well with the band’s musical landscape. However, it’s still pretty melodic at times, featuring some gorgeous, twisty guitars riffs on the verses, working nicely with the uncompromising lyrics. In terms of the lyrics, Shaven Primates take an almost poetic look at online grifters such as Andrew Tate, who exploit the insecurities of many vulnerable young men around the world for profit. It’s possibly the most important song lyrically here at the moment, although that’s pretty hard to compute, considering the fact that each track confronts a particular topic that we really should be talking about more as a society.
We then come to the title track, Kill The Algorithm, which is a little more mellifluous at times, starting out with a hypnotic, almost trance-like groove, before moving onto the slightly heavier chorus. The bassline is very prominent, as the guitar flurries dance around the vocals and rhythm, channelling the earlier sound of Muse and Radiohead’s output at times. The song gradually unravels into a sprawling, dense wall-of-sound, closing out the EP in a delightfully noisy way.
It’s clear from the very start of the EP that Kill The Algorithm is one of the heaviest records that Shaven Primates have released so far, yet it really works wonders, especially with the highly topical lyrical concepts on display here. The EP is a sharp and fiercely intelligent record that proves that this band are at their utmost best when embracing the friction between catchy hooks and chaotic noise. The mix of genres and styles is fantastic too, helping to make this dystopian, punky record seem like a timely and cathartic release – particularly due to the lyrical themes on display here.
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