Oxford four-piece Shaven Primates return with Kill the Algorithm, an uncompromising four-track EP that pushes deeper into the band’s signature blend of dark-wave, art rock, proto-punk, and post-punk. Since forming in 2017, the quartet has built a reputation for confronting uncomfortable subjects head-on, and this latest release is no exception. Revolving around themes of anxiety, manipulation, and control, the EP channels personal unease and social frustration into a collection that is equal parts cathartic and confrontational. Drawing inspiration from everyone from Placebo and Nine Inch Nails to Radiohead, Joy Division, and the Sex Pistols, Shaven Primates fuse familiar influences into a sound that feels refreshingly fierce and unmistakably their own.
Opening track “Saviour” wastes no time throwing listeners into its turbulent world. Grinding, gritty guitars collide with thunderous drums as the song pulses with relentless energy. The vocalist begins in a tense, weighty register before soaring into emotionally charged choruses, capturing the desperation of searching for someone else to heal wounds that can only be faced within. Mystical, atmospheric, and hypnotic, the track constantly feels like it’s chasing an elusive truth, while lyrics about dependence, heartbreak, and fabricated salvation strike with haunting force.
Then comes “Pioneer Way,” and all bets are off. Storming instrumentation, commanding rhythms, and impassioned vocals transform everyday frustrations into a searing social critique. Backing vocals rise dramatically behind crashing drums and grinding guitars, amplifying lyrics that lash out at nationalism, media influence, and fear-driven division. The band’s punk DNA is impossible to miss, delivering both urgency and controlled chaos in equal measure.
“Feed” continues the assault with muscular riffs and uncompromising lyricism aimed at figures who exploit vulnerable young men through manipulation, insecurity, and toxic ideals. Rather than offering vague observations, the song directly confronts predatory behaviour with blistering conviction, making it one of the EP’s most fearless moments.
Finally, the title track “Kill the Algorithm” shifts into a cooler, more hypnotic groove. Chiming guitars, heavy beats, shimmering cymbals, and droning textures create an almost trance-like atmosphere as restrained vocals float above the mix. Beneath its infectious rhythm lies a sharp critique of algorithm-driven radicalisation and digital manipulation, ending the record on its most chilling note. Bold, intelligent, and sonically adventurous, Kill the Algorithm proves that Shaven Primates aren’t afraid to challenge listeners as much as they entertain them.
STAY IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | X | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan