The Oxford, UK four-piece Shaven Primates just dropped a new EP, released on July 31st, 2026. Kill The Algorithm is a short, nasty, and brilliantly angry collection of songs that tackles the modern world’s digital sickness head-on.
Shaven Primates have been kicking around since 2017, and they describe themselves as a dark-wave, art-rock, and proto/post-punk outfit. That’s a mouthful, but it makes sense when you hear them. They build their sound on grinding, rumbling basslines, wailing guitars that cut through the mix, synths that bounce between vintage warmth and icy modern edges, and drums that hit like a sledgehammer. The vocal work is all over the place—one second you get a smooth, crooning melody, the next a frantic scream that sounds like it’s coming from the bottom of a well.
Now, the big picture. This EP marks a shift for the band. Their earlier records dealt with different beasts—”Chasing The Dragon” was about desire, “Birds Aren’t Real” tackled alternative thinking, and “Child Of Dirt” dug into childhood trauma and addiction. This time, they’ve locked their sights on a single, brutal theme: Anxiety and Control. And they’ve leaned harder into gritty hard rock and punk, with a side of modern art-rock weirdness. They are not here to make you feel cozy.
The EP kicks off with “Saviour“. This track looks at the dangerous habit of searching outside yourself for someone else to fix your broken pieces. The band pulled from 90s sounds here, channelling the industrial angst of Placebo and Nine Inch Nails, mixed with a dash of grunge and thrash metal. It’s a slow-burn that builds into a ferocious head-banger.
Next up is “Pioneer Way“. And this one is pure, unhinged fun. The guitarist, Tom, apparently has a habit of ranting about the sudden national obsession with putting flags on lamp posts and roundabouts. The band took those living anxieties and turned them into a blistering punk track. Think Sex Pistols at their most furious—that same level of rage and anxiety that defined late 70s punk. It’s a short, sharp shock that will have you shouting along even if you don’t know the words.
Then comes “Feed“, and this one is nasty in the best possible way. The band takes aim at a very specific type of predator: men who exploit the loneliness and angst of young guys, feeding them toxic, image-obsessed narratives just to cash in. It’s a direct attack on coercion and manufactured masculinity. The musical fuel comes from Rage Against The Machine and Metallica, giving it that stomping, riff-heavy backbone. It’s pure grievance turned into a weapon.
Finally, the title track, “Kill The Algorithm“, is the centrepiece that ties everything together. This song dives straight into the cesspool of social media. The band points out how algorithms recklessly infiltrate young minds, pushing propaganda that has, in real life, inspired people to commit acts of violence. They explicitly mention the case of Charlie Kirk and the UK shooting of Jo Cox—real-world tragedies linked to online radicalization. The solution, they say, is in the title. Musically, they channel the eerie, paranoid atmospheres of Radiohead, the theatrical chaos of Bowie, and the dark, driving pulse of Joy Division. It’s a five-minute-plus epic that feels like a warning siren.
What makes this EP so potent is its brevity—four tracks, just under 18 minutes. But every second is packed with purpose. The production is raw and gritty, matching the lyrical fury. The bass rumbles deep, the guitar cuts through with razor precision, and the drums sound like they were recorded in a live basement—in the best way possible.
Shaven Primates have never been a band to pull punches, and this EP proves they’re only getting angrier and more focused. If you’re sick of the digital circus, tired of being fed nonsense by a computer, and need some cathartic rock to blast in your earbuds, Kill The Algorithm is your new battle cry. Turn it up, let the anxiety out, and join the rebellion.