Battlestar Battering at 145 BPM: Moose Wrench’s ‘Dead Stars’ Hits Like a Neon Prog-Rock Neurological Event –

If Henge ever needs an intergalactic opening act, they should look no further than Moose Wrench, a synthy prog-rock outfit capable of putting your synapses into so much of a spin that keeping pace with them practically feels like a neurological event. Dead Stars, from their LP Side Quest, is the ultimate example of the freneticness of their fervour.

Imagine Mozart riffing on a keytar under the influence of mushrooms, industrial electronica and the staccato rhythms of reggae, and you will get an idea of what is in store if you hit play. The Leeds trio, built around keytar, bass and drums, have no need for guitars when their progressive psych-rock absurdism already fires off enough kinetic mischief to leave most bands sounding pedestrianly earthbound.

At 145 BPM, Dead Stars works like a battlestar battering, sending synaesthesia of a strobing neon cosmos into your vision while reminding you that we are little more than dust. That universal theme gives the track a surprisingly philosophical spine beneath its psychedelic grooves, tying the silliness to something properly existential.

With reference points including The Cardiacs, Mr. Bungle, Primus and Ween, Moose Wrench make alternative rock feel deranged, technical and festival-ready without sanding away their outsider humour. Their discography is built for listeners who like their prog playful and their left-turns violent. It’s probably safer if you don’t play any of it while driving.

Dead Stars is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast