Brisbane garage rock ensemble Velociraptor first appeared on the local scene as a trio in 2008, but with two of those members quickly finding fame with side-project DZ Deathrays, the line-up quickly expanded exponentially by necessity to cover their frequent absences. In their halcyon days, Velociraptor were a force to be reckoned with, an amorphous collective sometimes up to 12 members strong – many of them wielding axes of some description – who attacked their live performances like they did their rider, with unbridled glee and genuine gusto.
They’ve now streamlined the line-up to a lazy ten members and returned to the fray with their new album Computer Future—due via Coolin’ By Sound/Redeye Worldwide in 2024—which is the best distillation of their hood-laden garage rock aesthetic yet.
The band’s new single, “Falling,” is a futuristic take on modern indie rock as the band courageously blends jangly, pop-leaning sensibilities with staggering nuances of heavy rock. It feels like almost every element of this single juxtaposes another, exploring the similarities between infectious pop and complex rock rather than hiding behind tropes from either one. The meeting ground for these two worlds is Velociraptor’s ability to make the complex feel simplistic. This nuanced fusion work is presented in a tight structure that allows each subtle element a chance to take center stage. With a new album on the way, “Falling” introduces us to the daring world of Velociraptor as the young band marches into the world of garage rock with a refreshing and welcoming take on the modern scene.
“This is likely the last song we recorded for the album, but the bass tone was so good, Aidan (engineer and producer) decided we should re-record the bass tracks on several older songs with the new tone,” explains Velociraptor member Julien James. “It’s got that perfect blend of attitude and grace, gentle and rough, all wrapped into one!”
