Wot Gorilla? - Kebnekaise

When talking about criminally underrated math-rock bands there can’t be much question that Wot Gorilla? have to be included in the conversation. After two tremendous EPs, the Oceansize-inflected alt-anthem ‘Fear Of Flying’ and excellent single ‘is’, they’ve finally delivered their first full-length offering, and there’s every indication that the time they’ve spent working on it has paid off.

‘Melted Welly’ and ‘Holy B’Jesus!’ will be familiar turf to long-time fans, but ‘Suspects’ and ‘Afraid Of The Dark’ also showcase a slightly subtler, broader-stroke version of the band, as well as offering a break from their sometimes mind-bogglingly intricate compositions.

Perhaps because the nature of the genre more-or-less demands a frenetic pace and energy it does mean that the album is rather samey if you’re not taken to listening to forty minutes of math. In that case, it’s probably best enjoyed as two EP-length passages, with the heavier ‘655’ as the start of the second section.

It’s a dense record and not for the faint-hearted, but if you like your guitar rock experimental and challenging, then you can’t go far wrong with this brilliant first record.