Claas – “In My Head” review

This is the 4th EP from Arlington, Texas emcee Claas. For about 2 decades, this guy’s been steadily putting in work for the underground whether it be on it his own or as a member of groups like The Underground Avengers as well as VLNC & the Caarnivorz. He teased his previous LP albeit 3 with Lyrikal Snuff Productionz by dropping a trilogy of EPs leading up to it much like Strange Music used to do in 2019/2020 right before the COVID pandemic, culminating in This is Revenge being released in full 2 & a half years ago. He has since decided to take listeners In My Head over a month after UGA’s 3rd & final album Oblivion & 3 weeks since former AAA Mega Campeon, AAA Mundial Parejas Campeon, AEW International Champion, AEW World Tag Team Champion, AEW World Trios Champion, HoG Tag Team Champion, MLW World Tag Team Champion, PWG World Tag Team Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Tag Team Champion Rey Fénix had his final AEW match in Claas’ city.

The title track has a morbid trap atmosphere to get the 3 song, 11 minute offering started demonically talks about demons following him with no end in sight while “In This Box” drearily acknowledges death at the door encouraging to let him in. “A Part of Me” ends the EP with a guitar & hi-hats talking about searching, but being unable to find.

Very much outside his norm, what we have is a culmination of the roughest stretch in Claas’ life dealing with everything that has happened over a 2 year span & finding a way to put all that into words. He tells a story of himself battling the thoughts in my head & finally coming to grips with the biggest tragedy in his life happening, slowing falling into the depths of dark thoughts in his head.

Score: 3.5/5

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The Underground Avengers – “Oblivion” review

This is the 3rd & final full-length studio LP from Arlington, Texas emcee Claas alongside Louisville, Kentucky/Covington, Georgia duo The Horde consisting of Bukshot & Boondox or collectively known as The Underground Avengers. Forming in 2012 off an eponymous debut EP, they got back together in the summer of 2018 to have Majik Ninja Entertainment back their debut album Anomaly 88 & returning almost a year later for the sophomore effort Dark Matter. A 2nd EP The Gateway was released in the fall of 2022 & coming off an appearance at Astronomicon 7 couple months ago, they’re taking us to Oblivion after 12 years in the making allegedly.

After the “Judgment is Upon You” intro & the “Reassembled” skit, the unhinged first song “Who Dat?!” produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 who did UGA’s coda in it’s entirety leaving everyone running when the trio comes through whereas the morbidly flavored trap joint “Diablo” telling the haters to keep it moving. “Without a Trace” takes the aggressive trap route instrumentally making them learn when they do wrong & after the titular interlude, “Sideshow” angrily talks about being ready for rapture.

“Smash” brings an unsettling trap flare to the beat detailing the asshole nature all 3 of them possess while “Predators” featuring Mr. Grey sees the quartet devilishly talking about ripping the spine out your back. After the “OPLAN” interlude, “Snake Eater” hooks up an eerie atmosphere once again looking to make the final feature just before “Be Warned” grimly cautions listeners of UGA’s wrath.

After the “Reaping” interlude, “Other Side” delivers an adrenaline inducing hardcore trap banger leading into the grisly “‘Til the Music Stops” looking to ride until the wheels fall off the muhfucka. After the “Collision” interlude, “A Little Crazy” goes boom bap to talk about their craziness while the bouncy “Bring It Back” runs from the law grinding & getting dirty.

“When or Whenever” uncannily talks about everyone else watching them take the lead & after the “Dissassembled” outro, “Alibi” weaves organs & hi-hats wanting to be labeled as the bad guys when they’re gone while “Scab” is an insane rollercoaster ride of an underground 8 minute posse cut. After the “Black Hole” interlude, “Can’t Find Me” shows a serious side to UGA since the end is getting nearer.

Understandably, I can see why we’ll more than unlikely get another Underground Avengers album going forward since everyone’s already established individually in their own rights & Oblivion was the greatest note for them to leave on that took a dozen years for us to hear. The production’s primarily trap centered & the apocalypse concept throughout pretty much suits the fact that this is the last time we’ll hear them assemble.

Score: 4/5

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Caarnivorz – “CaarnivorouZ” review

The Caarnivorz are an underground duo consisting of Detroit, Michigan emcee Zitro as well as Arlington, Texas emcee Claas. One of whom is an established veteran in the wicked shit scene ranging from his own solo output to memberships with The Underground Avengers & VLNC to name a couple who’s been making himself at home with Lyrikal Snuff Productionz for the past 6 years, the other has been growing in popularity as of late after being co-signed by the Insane Clown Posse to point where I caught him live at the 2021 Gathering of the Juggalos & they referred to him as “the newest member of the Psychopathic Records family” in the liner notes of Yum Yum Bedlam a couple months later. The following summer, Zitro revealed himself as the Nain Rouge of Detroit & is now forming like Voltron with Claas for a debut EP.

After the intro, the first song “No Problems” is a dark trap opener to the EP cautioning that nobody wants to catch heat from them whereas “They Don’t Want None” talks about catching a case over an eerie loop with some hi-hats. “Too Bad” explosively calls out everyone who hates them because they’re not in their positions accompanied by a bassy trap instrumental, but then “I Want the Smoke” works in a vocal sample & hi-hats talking about being ready to go to war. “Don’t Get Involved” draws near the end of the Caarnivorz’ introductory project angrily advising that you’ll end up missing if you don’t do as the title suggests & prior to the outro, the final song “Fuck Around & Find Out” on a chaotic note expressing their desire to leave ‘em all dead at the end of the day.

I’ve been following Claas for about a decade at this point & only got introduced to Zitro during the pandemic, but I am a fan of both artists’ music & found it interesting that they were forming a duo together since they’ve never worked with one another previously on top of LSP putting it out. Unsurprisingly: CaarnivorouZ has me anticipating what comes from the Caarnivorz in the future. The production’s more trap-centered & both MCs match each other’s intensities well.

Score: 4/5

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Claas – “This is Revenge” review

Claas is a 40 year old MC from Arlington, Texas who’s been putting it down in the underground for almost 2 decades at this point whether it be on it his own or as a member of groups like The Underground Avengers or VLNC. But right before the pandemic started, he’s been teasing his 6th album (albeit 3 with Lyrikal Snuff Productionz) & even dropped a trilogy of EPs leading up to it much like Strange Music used to do in 2019/2020. Couple years later, we’re finally being treated to This is Revenge in it’s entirety.

“Sweartagawd” is a rowdy boom bap-tinged opener talking about how some people got him fucked up referencing WWE Hall of Famers D-Generation X whereas “Foxtrot. Echo. Alpha” follows it up with a more trappier sound getting in his hardcore bag. Keagan Grimm tags along for the rock-tinged “Friends” talking about burying their competition, but then Kung Fu Vampire & The R.O.C. come into the picture for the rugged “Devil May Cry” detailing what they’ll do when they get down to Hell.

Meanwhile on “Feast”, we have Claas angrily calling to be let off his leash just before the rowdy “What Does That Make You?” talks about how cats need to know their placements even though neither Chxxmpa or Sicnoizednice’s verses. Keagan returns for the trap metal-flavored “Revenge” expressing their desire for vengeance leading into the hellish “Come & Get It” lashing out to those who want to bring him down.

“Legen (Wait for It) Dary” is a riot starter tackling his legacy with a reference to former IWGP世界ヘビー級王座, 3-time IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座, NEVER無差別級王座, ROH World Television Champion, United Empire leader & the longest reigning RPW British Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay of 新日本プロレス while “Crowns” goes into a more morbid direction sonically talking about how his throne remains untouched. “Time Bomb” goes straight metal getting ready to explode mentally whereas “Gone (Never Comin’ Down) takes a spacier, trap route talking about never touching the ground again. Boondox & Cage link up with Claas for the creepy “Dichotomy” confessing being in the middle of a Holy war while “Outlaw” with JP tha Hustler & 1 Ton has a more operatic sound comparing themselves as such.

“Smoke” keeps the uncanny trap vibes going challenging anyone to step up to him lyrically & “The Sinners Win” returns to a more rock-centered sound talking about trying to evolve & survive. The song “Burn It Down” with Bukshot sees the pair telling the frauds to stay away from them over a rambunctious beat while the penultimate track “Fuckin’ Dope” reunites with Chxxmpa & Sicnoizednice for a more triumphant tune boasting their skills. “Suffocation” ends the album with yet another rock banger calling out those who don’t want him to succeed.

For as long as this guy’s been in the game, I think he really came through with his best solo effort yet & it absolutely makes up for the 2 year wait. Claas has always been a lethal wordsmith, but he really turns it up to 11 on here & I’m very impressed with the amount of different sounds that he goes for throughout.

Score: 4/5

The Underground Avengers – “Dark Matter” review

The Underground Avengers are a southern hip hop supergroup consisting of Arlington, Texas emcee Claas as well as Covington, Georgia & Louisville, Kentucky duo The Horde a.k.a. Boondox & Bukshot. They first assembled in 2012 with their self-titled EP, but then disappeared shortly after. Then with the help of Majik Ninja Entertainment late last August, they reformed to drop their debut album Anomaly 88. Now 11 months later, they’re back with their sophomore album & have enlisted Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 to produce it from front to back.

After the “Dragonfly 44” intro, we go into the first song “Black Summer”. Where the trio get vicious over a haunting trap beat. The track “Tribulation” attacks fake people over a symphonic trap beat while the song “1 More Night” of course talks about partying over a rap rock beat. The title track is pretty much a decent spoken word interlude & then the next song “Chimera” talks about internal conflict over a nocturnal beat.

After the “Hecatomb” interlude, we go another interlude with with “Protocol”. We finally get back into the music with “Invasion”, where the Avengers get with Young Wicked & The Jokerr to compare themselves to aliens over a sinister trap beat. The penultimate track “God Particle” is a fantastically gritty sequel to the equally star-studded “Thanos” off of the Avengers’ previous effort & then album ends with the “Coda” spoken word piece.

This is yet another solid effort from the Avengers. There are a little too many interludes/skits for me, but the chemistry between the trio is still strong & 7’s production suits them fantastically.

Score: 3.5/5