Electric Dinosaur

Hipflask Virgins

EP Review

Ever since I had the great pleasure of hearing and supporting their release of ‘Dutch Courage’ last year, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of their second EP….and now here it is. In ‘Electric Dinosaur’ the gritty duo of Jay Kimber (Vocals, Guitar) & Will Diment (Drums, Vocals) have created a body of work full of punch, grit, and unapologetic sensibilities. From the throbbing drum work to the grinding fuzz of the guitar as it cuts through your speakers each track comes alive.

From the opening track ‘Minotaur’ to the closing track ‘Sludge’ Hipflask Virgins display an unmistakeable talent for crafting hard edged and complex songs. From their use of tempo switch ups in ‘Minotaur’ you get a sense that they are fully in control of their sound and allowed the music to guide the writing. Each note, each purposeful snap on the snare culminates in a song that seems to bare its teeth at you, daring you to listen on. This energy and hungry glint in the music fully fuels the EP and holds you in place for all five songs.

I also feel that the releasing of ‘Icarus and ‘Dutch Courage’ were great taste tests for what was to come on the EP. Both tracks embody all the elements in the rest of the tracks from the fuzzy riffs to the contagious hooks wrapped in a nostalgic blanket of old school grunge with a punk pillow. Think Sonic Youth and Royal Blood planning a surprise party for Foo Fighters. Each song has a purpose and is pushed to tis creative limit, leaving nothing behind as the final note fades out. Even the vocals switch between subtle light harmonising to rage fuelled screaming at the drop of a hat. All done while constantly in a forward motion.

Overall this EP while not only having a brilliant title is also a testament to the bands hard work and determination to get the best out of themselves and their songs. All written, recorded, and produced by themselves, for me this creative control is what has made this EP worth the wait. They’ve managed to bottle what made grunge so great and mixed in their own piece of magic to create the sonic equivalent of their very own ‘Electric Dinosaur’. It’s fearless, confident, and not afraid to bare its teeth.

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