Album Review: Velociraptor - The World Warriors

I'm not a big fan of the mini LP. I don't know what it is; maybe it's that weird middle ground between an EP and LP, which are both typical and expected collections of songs. But hey, maybe I'm just being cynical. After all, Velociraptor are confident enough in saying that they actually invented the format; bands that had “created” mini-LPs before them had actually used time machines to undermine their pioneering ways. Welcome to the world of Velociraptor.

The band were formed by Jeremy Neale and his two friends, Simone Ridley and Shane Parsons (otherwise known as DZ Deathrays). That little tidbit of information has had a major effect on Velociraptor's gestation – DZ's touring commitments have led to a rotating roster of about 12 “Ultimate Party Dogs” (seriously, that's what they call themselves) all stepping up on stage to contribute to the fanged beast. The result is a joyous mess of mostly garage rock-based riffage and melody. Openers Cynthia and Walk On By set the tone by deploying simple yet catchy-as-shit beats smothered in reverb. JNR Astronauts goes a bit Arctic Monkeys with some well-timed vocal harmonies, while Do The Ruby and Riot may be the ultimate examples of what the group are trying to do.

It's not really anything new; the syncopated rhythms and grungy guitar work can be heard from here to Jeff The Brotherhood. But it's fun, and that's basically all Velociraptor want you to know. Did you really expect more from a group of people who refer to themselves as Ultimate Party Dogs and a dinosaur made popular by Jurassic Park?