Review: Shrike gold

HIP hop project Shrikes, a fledging Great Imitation offshoot, sounds to me like a group with wings.
The debut five-track EP The Ruiner Of All Things Good is available for free from July 22, and strongly recommend you stick your beak in and check out its scattergun sound.
Akin to the likes of Cage and Subtle, their approach is dark in theme and unpredictable, unleashing jungle beats here, ominous electronic squelches there, spoken word sections, unexpected powerchords, inspired samples (I won’t spoil any surpises), and more – all of which is appropriate for a group named after a carniverous songbird.
The result, despite the light and shade of the loud and the quiet sections, is overall an oppressive one, partially as a result of the macabre, menacing feel of the tracks but mostly as a result of the weight of ideas being explored here in just five tracks.
I cannot wait to hear the group spread their wings over a full length effort.
4/5