Album Review: Shrinkwrap Killers - Feed The Clones Pt. 2
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
If you can cast your mind back to simpler times, like the 1980’s, where as a kid the only thing I had to worry about was riding my grifter, playing rugby with my mates, chewing hubba bubba and watching Hong Kong Phooey on the TV, the new wave explosion had begun, and you could record videos to VHS!!!
All these memories are evoked when you listen to the opening track “3D Printing Humans” from Shrinkwrap Killers. It’s the work of mastermind Greg Wilkinson, who plays all the instruments alongside performing the vocals, and it’s a joyous cacophony of noises and sounds. Songs like “Piss Bottles and Shit Bags” and “Eminent Death” feel as if they should have been included in Shane Meadows This is England.
I really like the fact that the songs have great variety in them, evolving into short sonic soundscapes based around Wilkinson being a longtime fan of new wave, 70/80’s punk, film scores, sci fi, horror and comics, and gives him that outlet to express himself. “Solar Cemetary” and “The Neighbour of the Beast” are both quirky little tracks, that feel dark and dirty, with a sinister keyboard ending that keeps you thinking.
The spaced out “Earth’s Destruction is Near” has a warped sense of reality about it but leads into the faster paced “We Are Not the Champions” which again has a curious rhythm that will take you back to the 80’s new wave style of unconventional guitars accompanied by a twitchy and agitated synthesiser sound. The weirdness shows no signs of slowing up, well, that’s a slight lie, as “Rolling Hills and Rolling Heads” has a simplicity about it that makes it even more enjoyable.
If you think about Wilkinson’s life, running Warhammer Studios, whilst playing bass and guitars in several other bands, then this seems worlds apart from that grindcore/death metal scene, but it is fabulous to see him embracing his passions and showcasing it in other styles of music. “Those Zombies are not in Costume” is probably my favourite song as it has a faster tempo and feels a more complete song, full of lyrics and great riffs.
The more sinister elements of his sound return on “Only The Evil Returns” which has a very catchy rhythm to it that feels like a slow death, as the spooky beat will encourage you to leave the lights on whilst listening, before it’s all wrapped with “Feed the Clones (Reprise)”. It’s as if the 80’s never left your soul, and you are back in the era of Kraftwerk and Devo, and is a hugely enjoyable listen.
Be the first to comment