Album Review: Wine Lips new album Super Mega Ultra emphasizes their growth and trajectory
On April 5, Wine Lips released their latest LP, Super Mega Ultra, the much-anticipated follow-up to their breakout album, Mushroom Death Sex Bummer Party. The Toronto-based act thrilled at Austin Psych Fest in 2023. Then the band dropped this latest punk rock banger recorded and mixed by Simon Larochette at the Sugar Shack in London, Ontario. The album was produced by bandleader, Cam Hilborn with Simon Larochette. It’s been on repeat at The Cosmic Clash offices since it dropped exactly one month ago on Stomp Records.
The new album kicks off with the emphatically uptempo, “Derailer,” which immediately kicks in with heavy guitar, bass and drums, and sets the perfect groundwork for the first half of the LP.
The record’s pace is consistently uptempo through the first four tracks, until shifting in trajectory with the psych-blues number, “New Jazz.” This is the point in Super Mega Ultra where Wine Lips’ versatility emerges and fans can see the depth of Hilborn’s songwriting.The second half of Super Mega Ultra puts the Wine Lips’ versatility on full display, making the first five numbers that much more impressive.
Hillborn (vocals, guitar) and Aurora Evans (drums) formed the band as a part-time project in 2015, wasting no time before releasing their debut LP two short years later. Their breakthrough third full-length was birthed during the pandemic lockdown, and released in late 2021 to much acclaim, setting up Wine Lips for a promising start to the decade.
Wine Lips shows no signs of slowing down. With Simon Larochette not only mixing the album, but contributing on bass and percussion,their sound can’t be boxed in, and is far more versatile than would be apparent after initial listens of this exceptional new recording. The best way to describe their music is “garage rock,” but there’s clearly much more than that happening.
Instrumental song, “Lemon Party,” is particularly catchy, and will likely have you hitting “restart” at least once.
Super Mega Ultra closes out with “Cash Man,” which feels like an extended jam-out cut short, but is a perfect finale for the album. We’re looking forward to hearing the cut performed live the next time the group comes through Austin.
With Super Mega Ultra, it is apparent that Wine Lips has grown as a unit. The group has honed in on their greatest collective attributes, and the band just released their most fun listen as a result. More complex song structure, catchier songwriting from Cam Hilborn, and the expansion of their instrumental versatility make Super Mega Ultra a must-listen. It’s an album packed with impressive guitar riffs and stellar drumming. Hell, it’s just superior musicianship. It’s a fun album that is deserving of multiple listens.
Wine Lips play Austin’s 13th Floor Monday, May 6. See all of this great live act’s tour dates here.
Featured photo by Pooneh Ghana for Shakey Knees Festival
Super Mega Ultra tracklist:
Derailer
High On Your Own Supply
Killjoy
New Jazz
Stimulation
Six Pack
Serotonin
Stella
Lemon Party
Burn The Witch
Cash Man
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