Ian Lockwood
Arts Editor
Unique experimental Hip Hop trio, Death Grips, return with their intoxicating and stimulating fifth studio album “Bottomless Pit”.
Death Grips newest release, “Bottomless Pit,” displays the band’s ability to create complex and intriguing music. With the addition of psychotic vocals, controversial lyrics, and blending of multiple genres of techno and metal.
Death Grips are an experimental hip hop group from Sacramento, California, who first started releasing music in 2011 with the “Death Grips EP,” and since the band’s first album they have released multiple studio albums, mixtapes, EPs, and instrumental albums. The band consists of vocalist MC Ride, producer and drummer Zach Hill, and producer Andy Morin.
The band’s vocalist MC Ride displays his ability to alter his voice and develop various styles such as the ability to scream at the top of his lungs or have a gruff and dark rapping style. The track “Trash,” showcases his gruff but rapid paced rapping style and oppositely the track “Hot Head,” displays his Metal influenced psychotic style of shouting vocals. Ride’s spectrum of vocal inflections unlike any other current artist, bringing more attraction to the particular tone of his music.
In addition to Ride’s talented vocals, he uses controversial, gothic inspired topics talking murder and rape in his lyrics that creates a sinister atmosphere. On the track “The Bedrooms In A Good Neighborhood”, Ride says “Three bedrooms in a good neighborhood/ On fire like a margarita made out of wood.” Juxtaposes his dark side with the destruction of a peaceful and positive thing. This is an appealing aspect of the music overall and brings an intense sensation to the album.
Additionally, every track’s drum progressions have a unique but compelling blend of hip hop and techno inspired drums. The tracks “Houdini” and “Bubbles Buried In This Jungle” show the mix of heavy 808 kick drums and fast repetitive hi-hats. Creating an intriguing, fast paced aesthetic that is compelling and enjoyable for the listener.
Death Grips is commonly known as an experimental hip hop group, but with the track “Bottomless Pit” many different genres can be heard such as Industrial Techno and Black Metal, creating a new enjoyable genre of their own style of music . The track “Ring A Bell” blended distorted guitars, heavy synth progressions, and fast repetitive drums, switching back and forth between genres creating a uncommon yet amusing tone. The mixing of genres makes the album unlike contemporary music, and creates an attraction to the distinct style of the music.
Death Grips newest release “Bottomless Pit” is an enjoyable return due to the addition of psychotic vocals, controversial lyrics, and blending of multiple music genres.
“Bottomless Pit” is available for listeners on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Music.
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