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

Scum – “Dyin’ World Chroniclez 2: Red Groundz” review

This is the 13th full-length album from Russian-American horrorcore veteran Scum. Coming up as the founder of the local independent powerhouse Lyrikal Snuff Productionz, the man has literally dropped dozens of projects either on his own or with side projects like M.M.M.F.D. & the 4 Horsemen. Dude just dropped Dyin’ World Chroniclez: Grey Skiez about 5 months ago & after a couple of new singles following that, we’re being treated to the sequel Dyin’ World Chroniclez 2: Red Groundz.

After the intro, the title track works in some violins for him & King Gordy portraying their own versions of Hell whereas “Beyond Comprehension” is a trap banger talking about how his intentions are clear. Smallz 1 tags along to let people know they’ll remain underground on the frosty “My Damnation” just before trapping cats into a “Lion’s Cage” with a demented instrumental.

Meanwhile on “We the Onez”, we have M.M.M.F.D. jumping on top of a skeletal trap beat to talk about parents warning their children of them leading into “Wonder” continuing to delve into that sound except it has more meat on the bone & Scum pondering what’s going through his victim’s mind. “Groundhog (Fri)day(13)” is an aggressive, high-tempo anthem to murder whereas “Intrauterine Cannibalistic” with Hex Rated goes into trap metal territory talking about making cats bleed when they catch ‘em.

The song “Humpty Dumpty” speaks on cracking people’s heads over a nocturnal instrumental while the penultimate track “Keep That Shit” works in some keyboards & hi-hats to admit that he’s sick in the head. Then it rounds out with “Nevaendin’ Story”, which is Scum talking about murder being addictive accompanied by a misty beat.

Scum has been putting it down for the underground wicked shit scene for a very long time at this point & the whole Dyin’ World Chroniclez series that he’s been doing lately turning out pretty hard. In comparison to the previous installment, I think this one sounds darker & rawer in terms of production choices & pen-game.

Score: 3.5/5

Damien Quinn – “The Great Red Dragon” review

Damien Quinn is a 33 year old MC from Kenosha, Wisconsin gaining notoriety in the underground as part of the horrorcore duo Dark Half. They only put out 2 critically acclaimed albums together until his partner in rhyme Geno Cultshit passed away of a drug overdose in 2015, but Damien kept himself busy by dropping a handful of EPs leading up to his official solo debut Disorder a couple summers back. But after a few delays, he’s finally following it up with a sophomore effort.

“B.M.A.L.” begins the album by talking about making them all bleed accompanied by an electro-trap beat from Devereaux whereas “Acadia” takes things into a more trap metal direction talking about the apocalypse. “Unconscious” is an awkward cover of Monoxide’s solo cut off the House of Krazees’ 1994 sophomore album Season of the Pumpkin as much as I love the original, but makes up for it with the demonic “I Can Make Them Change”.

Meanwhile on “Cursed”, we have Damien expressing his desire to watch the world burn on top of a manic instrumental leading into the eerie serial killer themed “Manhunter”. He later takes a shot that those who thought they’d try to kill him whilst reviving the trap metal sound on “Ready-Set-Assemble” with that type of production further carried into the mosh pit anthem “Panic Button”.

“ĆVND1RÜ” is a distorted call to expose the bones of the mistreated & unknown while “Hausu” addresses his lover with the production taking a stripped back detour. “The Woman Clothed in the Sun” works in some keyboard melodies attached to mythological lyricism & finally there’s the closer “Chapter 54”, which is a misty declaration of not conforming.

Of all the projects that Damien has dropped on his own since Geno’s untimely passing, this is finest one of them all. The production choices have significantly improved & we get a very well-told story of who The Great Red Dragon really is.

Score: 4/5

Scum – “Dyin’ World Chroniclez: Grey Skiez” review

Scum is a 40 year old rapper from Denver, Colorado known for being the founder of the seminal horrorcore label Lyrikal Snuff Productionz. He’s gone on to release 11 albums on his own, the previous being the double-disc Out with the Old that came out this past summer. But just about 7 months later, the Gorefather is returning once more for his 12th full-length album.

After the intro, the title track that truly kicks the album off talks about Hell awaiting over a frightful instrumental whereas the next song “New Day” with Lex the Hex Master sees the 2 giving their take on the saying “out with the old, in with the new” over an oracular trap beat. The track “This Right Here” talks about repping LSP over a villainous boom bap beat while the song “When It Rains” with Smallz 1 finds the 2 talking about spraying rounds over a bleak yet abrasive trap instrumental.

“Tha Hit” vividly details whacking someone over some weighty strings while the track “Body Parts” by M.M.M.F.D. talks about dismemberment over a slow, wintry beat. The song “Stress” talks about insanity over a deranged instrumental while the track “Look Around” by Lobotomy talks about the fall of an empire over a apocalyptic trap beat.

The song “Downfall” talks about how fucking with LSP will be the end of you over a nocturnal trap instrumental while the penultimate track “24” with Death+ finds the 2 talking about having fucked up thoughts 24/7 365 over an uncanny beat. The album finishes off with “Story’s End”, where Scum talks about how you’re going to meet your maker over a cinematic instrumental.

This is a pretty dope album & I’m looking forward to hearing how the other installments of the Dyin’ World Chroniclez turn out to be. The lyrics is as gruesome as it was on his debut 18 years ago & his production choices just keep getting rawer with each project he puts out.

Score: 3.5/5

Insane Poetry – “Wicked Killagraphy” review

Insane Poetry is a horrorcore group from Los Angeles, California formed in 1988. The group originally had 5 members & released 2 albums in the 90’s, but has been spearheaded solely by it’s Day 1 frontman Cyco from 2003 onward. He has released a total of 5 albums since & has been signed to Lyrikal Snuff Productionz since late 2010. The last time we heard from Cyco on his own in a full-length capacity was 2017 with The Snuff Reels Director’s Cut: The Birth of Richard Hansen but after 4 years, he’s returning with the 8th album in the Insane Poetry catalogue.

After the “King Paimon’s Entrance” intro, the first song “Roadside Burial” talks about disposing a corpse on the side of the road over a devilish boom bap beat while the next track “Lair of the Cenobites” with Donnie Menace & james Joyce finds the trio talking about what it’s like in the titular place over an uncanny instrumental. The song “Y.S.I.H.W.B.L. (You Suffering In Hell Will Be Legendary)” by M.M.M.F.D. lyrically needs no further explanation as the duo hop on top of a thrilling trap beat while the track “Dirty Gloves” talks about how he can’t ignore the voices in his head over a lugubrious instrumental from Devereaux.

The song “Cold Blood” with Shaw Monsta sees the 2 talking about murder over a fancy boom bap beat while the track “Memories of a Lost Soul” tells the story of a woman who had a very rough life & his best friend Lou over an earnest instrumental. The song “Devil in My Pen” with Damien Quinn & Smallz One finds the 3 talking about how evil their lyrics are over a solemn beat while the track “Books of Blood” talks about how tonight is the night to write in the titular objects over a boom bap instrumental with some evil keyboard melodies.

The song “I’m Possessed” of course talks about demonic posession over a celestial beat while the track “Hear No Evol” is a phenomonal fusion of horrorcore & metal declaring himself as the black equivalent to Smashing Pumpkins frontman & National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) owner Billy Corgan. The song “Before I Killed” talks about wanting to know his murder victim’s thoughts before committing the act over a nefarious beat whereas the next 2 tracks are decent remixes of “Cold Blooded” & Roadside Burial”. The album ends with “Hunt”, where M.M.M.F.D. reunite to trade bloodthirsty bars back & forth over an instrumental with some horror movie-like string sections.

Personally, I think this is the best album Insane Poetry has released since signing to LSP almost a decade ago. The production is grimy as to be expected & it’s just totally remarkable how the horrorcore pioneer hasn’t lost a step in terms in lyricism this deep in his career.

Score: 4/5

Cody Manson – “Psychoactive” review

Cody Manson is a 30 year old rapper from Cleveland, Ohio who’s been on my radar for a couple of years now. He recently signed with Lyrikal Snuff Productionz & in light of that, we’re being treated to the man’s full-length album.

The title track that kicks the album off speaks on his meaning of such over a trap metal beat whereas the next song “S.T.F.U. (Shut The Fuck Up)” takes aim at his competition over a trap instrumental with some chimes. The track “Bounce” with Bobby Krea sees the 2 getting raunchy over a rubbery beat while the song “Lucy” with Shadow & Ether finds the trio talking about losing their minds over a comatose instrumental.

The track “W.T.F. (What The Fuck?)” with The Fallen Angel & The Irishman sees the 3 talking shit over a bassy beat while the song “Slidin’” tells those to quit speaking on his name over an monstrous instrumental. The track “Tunnel Vision” talks about holding it down for his daughter on the way over a dingy beat while the song “Fast Life” talks about everyone that’s starving to make it over a nocturnal instrumental.

The track “Better Way” with Famz finds the 2 talking about their imperfections over a trap beat with some keys & heavy guitars while the song “Already Dead” gets murderous over a paranormal instrumental. The track “Kool-Aid” with M.M.M.F.D. sees the trio talking about how it ain’t safe referencing the late WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE world champion & WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage over a symphonic beat while the song “Suicide Hotline” with G-Mo Skee finds the 2 talking about making rappers want to kill themselves over a thunderous instrumental & it’s rad as fuck that G shouted me out in the opening line.

The track “Step Back” with At-L@tto & the Seed of 6ix is a moshpit starter with a beat fittingly kin to Three 6 Mafia while the song “Spiral Down” with Razakel & Damien Quinn finds the 3 talking about watching one fall over a devilish instrumental. The album ends with “Lessons”, where Cody talks about those who said he’ll never make it over a tense beat.

I’m really happy to watch dude’s evolution because this album is living proof of Cody being a good fit for LSP. Even though the features can be hit or miss at times, his undeniably has a lot of energy & you can really tell he put a lot of heart into it.

Score: 3.5/5

SevidemiC – “Bending Teeth” review

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SevidemiC is a rapper from Compton, California that performs his own style of music called “zombie hop”. The man has released a handful of projects throughout the 2010s, but his biggest breakthrough yet wasn’t until this year when he signed to Lyrikal Snuff Productionz & dropped his 7th EP Xenogod this past March. But with Halloween being 6 days away, Sev has decided to give fans yet another EP.

The opener “Groundfall” talks about how he came to fuck shit up over a glitchy yet moody beat & the song “Solipsistia” right after is an annoyingly repetitive club joint which I completely get, but it just doesn’t do anything for this reviewer personally. The next track “Get Off Me” though is a completely off the wall banger both lyrically & sonically while the song “Zedicine” is another party starter like “Solipsistia”, except SevidemiC’s performances are more captivating & the electro-funk instrumental is infectious. The track “Nip / Tucc” is basically a “fuck everyone” anthem over a bassy trap beat with some synths & then the closer “Amen” finds Sev comparing himself to a demon over a skeletal trap beat.

I honestly think I like this EP more than Xenogod. Bending Teeth continues to reveal how unique SevidemiC truly is to LSP’s roster with it’s synth/trap production as well as his lyricism continuing to step up. Definitely looking forward to his full-length debut with the label even more now.

Score: 3.5/5