Goldie Lookin Chain might have warned us back in 2004 that Guns Don’t Kill People… Rappers Do, but Major Lazer, the one-armed veteran of the underground zombie wars of 1984, is here to update the warning – it seems that we need to be less worried about rappers, as lazers are the real killers.

While idea of a lazer-armed zombie killing Jamaican badass may suggest that this is a novelty record, that’s far from the truth. Rather than taking a cue from the prankster Welsh rappers GLC, Major Lazer sits as a companion to another album from 2004 – the digital mash of club beats and Jamaican vocals that made up the Two Culture Clash compilation. That record paired producers like Roni Size, Jacques La Cont and Zdar with dancehall and reggae artists as a kind of beginners guide to the variety of sounds offered by Jamaican music.

The highlight of the album was Love Guide, a carnival of pounding tech house and drum n’ bass fronted by Ms Thing and produced by Switch. It turned up on Diplo’s Fabric mix a few years back and the producers have worked, separately and together, on tracks for M.I.A., Santigold and Amanda Blank. Now paired for their first full album, the pair have created an release that’s justifiably hyped as the most anticipated producer collaboration since Dilla and Mablib teamed up for the Champion Sound album.

Swaggering in out of the dust, the album kicks off with the lead single Hold the Line merging Morricone’s spaghetti western soundtracks with Dick Dale surf rock guitar, a stuttering vocal grab ala Lil Wayne’s A Milli, raps from Mr Lex and Santigold and the buzzing pulse of a vibrating mobile phone. It’s followed by When You Hear the Bassline with Ms Thing killing it over a thundering bassline easily matching her performance on Love Guide. As a one-two punch this opening immediately makes Major Lazer an absolute must for anyone with a pulse – it’s enough to raise the undead for another war.

The lovers rock of Can’t Stop Now – “I be loving you more everyday, I can’t stop” – offers a gentle respite before Lazer Theme rumbles into view with the sampled bass guitar of Black Flag’s Six Pack leading the charge. Cash Flow eases back as smoothly as a Red Stripe on a hazy afternoon, while the stoner anthem Mary Jane packs a punch of horns and Diplo’s beloved siren sample

After dropping lines for Spank Rock, What U Like continues Amanda Blank’s taste for contributing to the filthiest raps on offer – though she’s barely heard on the track as Einstein gets graphic over a minimal 808 bassline. It’s the perfect soundtrack for trialling your latest daggering moves

Keep It Going Louder is sure to be the crossover tune with a vocoded Ricky Blaze trading verses with Nina Sky, of Move Ya Body fame. It’s a pop gem amongst the harder edged beats and proof that Diplo and Switch are more than capable of attacking the charts as well as the dancefloor. After the cracking marching band drumlines and fidget wobble of Pon de Floor featuring Vybz Kartel, dancehall comedian Prince Zimboo calms an autotuned baby on the album’s sole skit and Jump Up brings the whole thing home in style.

Like a zombie needs brains, you need this record – Major Lazer kills.

Diplo & Switch AKA Major Lazer will be here for New Years Eve, read about it in ITM news and have a listen to the ITM interview. Check out the bonanza of special guests in the tracklisting below…

01. Hold The Line feat. Mr. Lex & Santigold
02. When You Hear The Bassline feat. Ms. Thing
03. Can’t Stop Now feat. Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell
04. Lazer Theme feat. Future Trouble
05. Anything Goes feat. Turbulence
06. Cash Flow feat. Jah Dan
07. Mary Jane feat. Mr. Evil & Mapei
08. Bruk Out feat. T.O.K. & Ms. Thing
09. What U Like feat. Amanda Blank & Einstein
10. Keep It Goin’ Louder feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze
11. Pon De Floor feat. Vybz Kartel (additional production by Afro Jack)
12. Baby feat. Prince Zimboo
13. Jump Up feat. Leftside & Supahype (co-produced by Crookers)