WRAPTORS – Wraptors

It’s apparent the members of Wraptors have eclectic tastes and have a collective warehouse of vinyl. All you need to do is play through the first four songs or jump to the closer in order to realize that they’re across-the-board as they sweep the billboards. Their output crosses generations and genres. They’ve done their homework and learned the riffs. If imitation were the best form of flattery, they’re throwing their respect all over the place.

In slot one, “Megasus” meets the definition of earlier Metal. Likewise, there is something modern about this particular strain. If you took Metallica’s DNA and pooled it with King Crimson’s “21^st Century Man” and Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”, you’d find similar characteristics between the unlikely progeny.

Then, “Maggie G” is a distorted amalgamate that features David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Clash. Or to look at this in a completely different way, it’s as if Stone Temple Pilots were playing Punk.

Keeping untapped resources from going stagnant, “Noise Strike 10’” is clearly Bush’s “I Don’t Want to Come Down From This Cloud” and Goo Goo Dolls’ “Name” with the modern Swing of The Stray Cats.

Pushing diametrically opposite elements to the brink, “Nuclear Assault” is like an explosive homage to Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix. On one hand, it’s “Sitting at the Top of the Bay”. On the other, it’s “Little Wing”. Still, it’s chords are somewhat unstable even if they’re delicately handled.

“Make An Aim” comes next and while it’s just as focused (or not) as the others; it feels like more of a recap than testing new waters. The same doesn’t apply to “Pulled it Off”, as it’s the strangest of the bunch. With that said, their final submission is along the lines of They Might Be Giants or Devo.

Up-close or without warning, their contradictory styles might make you want to cringe. From a distance, and with time to settle in your gut, their stratagem is cohesive and sane. They’ve devised a special formula that splices the origins of Metal with a host of musical influences. Once it’s had time to stew in the player, it’ll be hard to deny the alien baby that’s been incubating in your loins. They’re so equally familiar and unique that you’ll want to make them a part of your repertoire even if irreconcilable differences make you squeamish at first.