REVIEW: Alpha Male Tea Party - Reptilian Brain

Over the past few months, Liverpool-based math-rock trio ALPHA MALE TEA PARTY have been busy teasing their newest album, Reptilian Brain, which comes a painstaking five years after their last LP, Infinity Stare. The album comes at a time when proggy, dancy math-rock is really making a comeback in the UK & Ireland, with bands such as MAYBESHEWILL, ADEBISI SHANK, AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR and ORCHARDS making waves - not to mention the incredible lineups always present at the annual ArcTanGent festival. Therefore, as a staple band in the math-rock and post-rock scenes in the UK, it comes as no surprise that ALPHA MALE TEA PARTY’s newly released album came highly anticipated, and for good reason.

Immediately, the listener can tell that they’re holding nothing back with the explosive opener, Hostess Imperial. With a 6/4 measure and guitarist TOM PETERS yelling “captain, oh my captain, this ship seems to be sinking” before springing into the main verse of the song, you might well feel a nosebleed coming on, generated by nothing more than the viscerality of the song.

What’s more impressive is how TOM’s vocals fit in so well, especially considering the band has largely been instrumental; at least throughout two of their most popular albums Droids and Health. There’s definitely room for more vocal-driven math rock, and ALPHA MALE TEA PARTY prove that they can fill that space flawlessly. Having played through this album, you may well forget that the band are usually an instrumental act.

Any excuse to go back through their discography, right?

After recovering from the whiplash of the opening track, the rest of the album opens up ahead. The track Battle Crab, which was the first single from this album’s promo run, definitely brings in more progressive elements than the math-rock the band is known for, which is certainly no a bad thing.  While Reptilian Brain may not feature walls of pitch-shifted and intricate riffs found in Health or Droids, they’re able to show that they can balance both the technicality the band is known for with catchy hooks. Speaking of catchy hooks, A Terrible Day To Have Eyes greets you halfway through the album with what could be considered the most melodic and catchy track on this LP.

One thing that’s particularly good about this record is how damn tight the band continue to be. The Liverpudlian trio are masters at stringing together odd-time noodling into solid heavy hits with great precision, something they’re also able to bring to their impressive live shows. They also continue to be such a fun band to listen to, from their toe-tapping and catchy instrumentals, to their ridiculous song names (Probably Just Hungry, All Foot and No Mouth, Scumbag Alliance, for example). 

ALPHA MALE TEA PARTY also has a knack for being able to sound absolutely massive despite only consisting of three members - something that you’ll find repeatedly throughout Reptilian Brain. In part, that's down to the band having access to their own studio with guitarist TOM’s Trapdoor Studios in Liverpool. TOM has produced the bands recorded music for some time now, showing off the sheer breadth of ability to be found within the band.

He can’t take all the credit for Reptilian Brain, however; in fact, TOM self-admittedly took more of a step back from the production reins, handing them over to producer MARK ROBERTS (VOWER, DELTA SLEEP, POLY-MATH), and together, the two have created what is arguably one of the best prog-driven math-rock albums this year.

Reptilian Brain is melodic, chunky, progressive, and groovy, with tracks that both knock the wind out of you while also providing a mellifluent treat for the ears. While most of the tracks are on the assault, the band's softer side is also shown in tracks Probably Just Hungry and later in the album with Sniper’s Dream. All in all, this album is a perfect addition to their already sprawling discography, and one that will likely stay on repeat for plenty of listeners for months to come.

Score: 8/10

Reptilian Brain will be released on October 3rd 2025.

Words: Aaron Richardson

Photos: Alpha Male Tea Party