Hacktivist
Outside The Box
Release Date: 4 March 2016
UNFD
Review by Yok Rzeznic
So, rap metal still exists, and with Hacktivist you get an edge that a lot of the classic contemporaries never seemed to achieve. Even though the metal side slides into minimalistic djent territory all too easily to rely on the bass tunings for its distorted balls, it can easily sound like a mash-up at times, but it manages to work for the most part.
At its best, there are complex streams of machine-gun rhyming that are clear, concise, and passionate, over some intriguing drum passages and syncopated guitar, providing a fairly unique and well produced feast for the ears. At the other end is the predictable propensity for self-aggrandising which comes from certain lyrical styles as well as the whole concept of the music getting a little shallow and repetitive.
The addition of soaring metalcore style melodic choruses seems rather out of place as well, and would add to an already large divide in opinion for this band. Worth a listen to see which side you’re on.