
It’s cynical and mean-spirited to say that you hope your favourite rock stars will run into a bit of trouble by the time they need to write and record a new record. While karma may deal with all those who wish ill on others, the law remains the same – what are you going to write about if there’s nothing bad to inspire you?
You can hear this in the work of most middle-aged songwriters who’ve achieved success and who have been blessed with comfort and health. Even if this is the case with Shaven Primates, they’d have the decency not to let us know it. The band knows that it is conflict, inner and outer, that fuels great rock albums. This is what the band made for the 2025 EP “Chasing the Dragon.”
It’s the EP’s closer, “I’ll Quit Tomorrow”, which is, in fact, the focal point of the whole piece. The theatrical singing represents the voices fighting for control inside the main character’s brain. This powerful performance ends up being the real hook on this ode to gluttony, on this song about never being content or satisfied. In an era defined by overstimulation, “I’ll Quit Tomorrow” should resonate with most of us.
Sonically and thematically, the three songs that form the EP find common ground. The opener, “Airwaves”, builds on the same sense of drama with its doubled vocal tracks and dazzling guitar riffs. The tune really gets going on the easy-on-the-ear melodies of the chorus.
Even more revealing may the band’s choice of covering one of the more unusual pop songs to ever become an international hit, Kate Bush’s “Babooshka.” Shaven Primates match the staginess of the original performance while bringing the band’s unique touch. Still, hitting full rock mode for the song’s famous chorus will prove very pleasing for the band’s supporters and, potentially, could offer the band a breakthrough hit.
Shaven Primates is a confident, competent rock band. That’s precisely why musicians understand the importance of conflict and uncertainty when crafting a great track. Through the originals and the cover found on the “Chasing the Dragon” EP, the band takes one self-assured step forward.
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