Ho99o9 - Skin
Since 2012, theOGM and Eaddy have been peddling raging hip-hop/punk coming on like a hybrid of Black Flag and Death Grips. Skin is their second LP, following 2017’s United States of Ho99o9.
The third track here, Bite My Face (featuring Slipknot’s Corey Taylor) is the perfect summation of Ho99o9’s sound. There’s clattering industrial rhythms before a gentle interlude gives way to downtuned deathmetal and hardcore screaming. This is obviously not easy listening. Elsewhere, opener Nuge Snight a cathartic blast of rage both Battery Not Included and The World, The Flesh, The Devil mix fierce guitars and fiercer electronics whilst Slo Bread (featuring UGK’s Bun B) has queasy, unsettling vocals over trap rhythms. There’s more raging electronics on Protect My Bitch Pt 2, whilst Speak Of The Devil blends old-school hardcore with Lil Nas X and Crowbar style doom metal. Lower Than Scum fierce death metal and Devil At The Crossroads brings melodic, trap-inflected rap to the party. There’s MASSIVE chordage on Limits, featuring Jasiah, and then Dead Or Asleep brings matters to a consecutive conclusion with more trap rhythms, metal riffs and horror-rap vocals.
This may not fully represent the seething maelstrom that is the Ho99o9 live experience but, hell, it is a damned fine album.
8/10
