Kiwi Jr.'s formula shines again with Chopper

Combine deliciously fuzzy grunge that has a quaint jangle to it with snappy and sometimes wild lyricism. This is a formula that has worked for them so far, helped them make a name for themselves and cemented a foundation, so why fix what isn’t broken?

Third album Chopper delivers a Kiwi Jr that we all have become accustomed to. Opening “Unspeakable Things” is embracing, like a warm and friendly hug. “Parasite II” delves into a subject very relevant for recent times - the cost of living - with the silently inventive lyrics “There’s gotta be another man who’s spending all of the money”.

There are some more sedate elements to the album. There are flirtations with a slightly more pop leaning sound, best displayed through the slow building intro of “Clerical Sleep”. “The Extra Sees The Film” drives away from their trademark angsty vocals and feels reminiscent of Angles era Strokes. “Kennedy Curse” has a familiar charm to it, meanwhile “Contract Killers” is shimmering with an almost haunting undertone.

At just 10 tracks in length, it is an album that packs everything into one tight knit parcel. Chopper doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it steer into anything surprising or off kilter, but it definitely shows how nicely the wheel continues to spin. A band that have not been weighed down by expectations of grandeur or live with a need to switch things up with every release, Kiwi Jr seem keen to keep it up.