Album Review: Velociraptor - The World Warriors

For years now multi-pronged party starters Velociraptor have been one of the staples of Brisbane's thriving live scene – whether there's the full contingent of a dozen or a lesser ensemble they never fail to delight with their guitar-laden attack and good time aesthetic. Now they're dropping The World Warriors, an eight-track mini album of laid-back garage grooves, as fresh as it is infectious.

Velociraptor flit seamlessly between garage and rock sub-oeuvres like The Hives used to at their peak, although in a far more carefree and unpretentious manner. Opener Cynthia is all '60s pop grooves with an insidiously catchy chorus, Do The Ruby finds them howling like The Sonics over surf guitars, the bratty Riot segues into a smooth-as-hell chorus that caresses rather than jars, Mystery Man finds them channelling the captivating naiveté of The Modern Lovers and closing track Surf City Raptors is, as the name suggests, a suitably cheery tribute to The Beach Boys. The 'oohs', handclaps and gang vocals which liberally litter the songs are far more than just a means to give crew members something to do; instead they're used brilliantly to add a tangible vitality and joie de vivre to proceedings.

The only slight qualm you could have with the release is that, at eight songs and 22 minutes, it feels over before you're finished with it, but ultimately that's just incentive to throw it on again – hardly a problem. The World Warriors is an apt title as it finds Velociraptor stepping out from the shadow of DZ and onto the big stage in their own right, and the world sure could do with a good party right at the minute.