After a two-year wait, English rockers Kasabian have released their fourth album, Velociraptor!, but contrary to the title, the album is an electronically-charged shift to contemporary music, not an homage to Jurassic Park. While showing off Kasabian’s trademark versatility, Velociraptor! maintains enough of the group’s pumping beats and straightforward guitar riffs to keep its older fan base on board for the ride.
Velociraptor! moves away from the banal rock-based sound that grounds Kasabian by injecting electronic elements to its tracks. Kicking off the album with a bang, opening track “Lets Roll Just Like We Used To” misleadingly begins with ominous and eerie tones, eventually transforming into a fuller, richer rock sound by the time the chorus enters. “Days are Forgotten,” the album’s second track, is a throwback to classic Kasabian, featuring a heavy guitar riff and a driving drum beat. The vocals on “Days” could be straight out of “Clubfoot,” Kasabian’s biggest hit to date, but the song has a fresh quality that keeps the band, and the album, moving forward instead of lingering in past successes.
After these two tracks, the album takes a mellow turn with tracks such as “Goodbye Kiss” and “La Fee Verte,” during which the disc starts to develop a darker undertone. With a slower tempo, darker lyrics, and a haunting atmosphere, the track introduces the audience to an edgier side of the band.
On the second half of the album, upbeat tracks like “Velociraptor!” and “Re-wired” captivate the listener, contrasting the album’s first half with much tighter beats. The album’s namesake song is nothing special, though, and while the beat or lyrics may be catchier than the slower tracks in the album, it could have been written for a car commercial. Unlike the upbeat beginning of the album, Velociraptor! closes on a mellow note with the ethereal track “Neon Nights.” Featuring lingering vocals and repetitive electronic sounds, “Nights” creates an almost spiritual atmosphere, concluding the album with a satisfying, appropriately subtle tune.
Although it is not without its misses, Kasabian’s detailed compositions and ability to keep the listener’s attention provide Velociraptor! with a solid core. It may not be the best album to listen to before commencing hours of partying, but as a study partner or biking companion, Velociraptor! is as reliable as Kasabian’s earlier work.
