Three Trapped Tigers - Route One or Die

Fans of Hella, Lightning Bolt et al take note: on their debut Route One or Die, Londoners Three Trapped Tigers present a remarkably accomplished contribution to the world of frantic, IDM-inspired instrumental post-hardcore. The group are distinguished, amongst other things, by Tom Rogerson’s jazz-influenced piano and keyboards, which mesh improbably well alongside the whining, frazzled guitars and scattershot drums.

Rogerson has declared the band’s intention to replicate some of the mood and aesthetic complexity of artists like Squarepusher using a rock form. On paper, such a project sounds like a mere exercise in musicianship, but its value becomes apparent on tracks like Noise Trade, which layers gorgeous synth chords over hypnotically fast percussion. While Route One does occasionally drift – penultimate track Magne is a non-committal dub-rock jam – for the most part, its sharpness and breadth of imagination ensure that it retains a sense of narrative focus rare in instrumental rock. [Sam Wiseman]