Kasabian " Velociraptor" - Album Review

Kasabian are back at their best.

“Velociraptor” is the 4^th album of British band Kasabian, and it is their greatest effort yet. Bringing musical styles from across their album bases with a variety of instruments, backup vocals, powerful ambience and synthesized beats, Velociraptor has become an instant personal favourite of mine in my growing record collection.

The album, highlighted by single Days of Forgotten, begins with a trumpet solo bellowing out of background noises. Raising suspense for an up tempo verse, pumping with drums and Tom Meighan’s catchy vocals. Serge Pizzorno’s back up vocals bring that Kasabian-esque atmosphere immediately into the album with a song that grasps the rawness of their previous record West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Aslyum, and also a new sense of rock and roll.  Days Are Forgotten follows soon after, with a sense of Club Foot starting with a driving bass line over a drum beat. Pizzorno’s vocals high pitch and rising before Meighan begins his solid vocal layer. The drive of the song continues before breaking into an anthem like chorus that soars the album higher than ever expected. Guitars and continued beats bring the track back to down letting the listener beg for more.

Goodbye Kiss is perhaps the most unexpected song on the album especially from an electronic based band of Kasabian. The song grasps similar raw sounds heard on Arctic Monkeys’ album Humbug, and brings in acoustic guitars and a quaint string section. An instant classic at best with another chorus that keeps the album at stardom and rising. The songwriting and composition of this track is exemplary, and is one of the best on the album. La Fee Verte brings another flavour to the album with Pizzorno’s haunting lyrics over a catchy keyboard riff. Very raw with strings creating a rising suspense, another great track.

Rock and Roll is next defined with the track Velocirpator. Although not the best song written, the album needed a fast pace rock song on it and this fills in nicely. High tempo, strong drum riffs and insanely catchy verses brings the album back down to the ground. However, not for long as the next track Acid Turkish Bath sends the album into the instant classic zone. An opening Arabic sounding string section is coupled with powerful drums. Pizzorno and an acoustic guitar begin the verses creating  a haunting and mellow feel. This song should not be missed. It’s like a tune from the best film ever created.

I Hear Voices and Rewired bring back the sounds of the original Kasabian album, bringing a mixture of electric based riffs around catchy vocals and strong bass and guitar lines. A good familiar sound that will grab back fans who may have been lost with the slight tinge of change in the bands sound. Both songs are strong, and would excel in the live arena. Catchy and the album continues with no stopping with A Man of Simple Pleasures. An instant favourite, with a beckoning start with interesting bass lines coupled again by more haunting back ground noise. The chorus soars the album back high again with an unforgettable melody.

Switchblade Smiles is made for the stage, the live performances and the arena. Beginning with a typical Kasabian vocal with rising synthesizer loops before it breaks into haven with drums kicking in. Neon Noon then ends the album on the high note, a strong finish to an album that deserves extremely high praise for its effort and composition. A very good effort from Kasabian overall, and may branch their music style even further.