After a tumultuous series of events between the first half of Death Grips’ double album, The Powers That B, and the present, the band has finally released part two – the highly-anticipated Jenny Death in spite of a breakup, a purely instrumental release and reforming for a world tour. In the lead-up to its release, Death Grips released several music videos of tracks from the album, heralding a scorching release of experimental rap combined with the unusual inclusion of guitar-driven songs, all powered by memorable production and lyrics – and as the anticipated release landed, it earned the hype that was running behind it for months.
Straight from the opener I Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States, Jenny Death sends a statement to listeners: this album is not for the faint of heart (or the elderly…or children). I Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States pummels with a rapid-fire beat over a seething drone synth with repeated howls of “I Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States,” and “I don’t care about real life.”
Straight from the beginning, Jenny Death sets its theme clear: wanton aggression coupled with a reckless self-loathing, driving the music into a place of universal loathing and the idea that there’s nothing to lose. Multiple takes of this happen over the course of the album. Turned Off starts with the killer opening about chain smoking in the shower, despite the risk of death through heart attack or cancer, and that nothing’s sacred when vocalist MC Ride gets naked. Other lyrical themes involve the literal piss-take of Pss Pss,which, due to its production and sexualised lyrical content, could be seen as a swipe at the overtly sexualised pop-rap culture. For the most part though, the album sticks to its anger like an endless grudge. Combine the lyrical theme with pounding guitar riffs and some production as wild as the inner machinations of a meth addict, and Jenny Death never stagnates, staying unexpected, interesting and harsh.
Jenny Death’ssuccess comes due to a more constructed approach to songwriting. The ten-track album features more rap and less electronic experimentation than previous releases, and as a result, Jenny Death takes the distinction of being their most coherent yet violent album in years. It might not be for everyone, but if you’ve ever enjoyed noise rock, heavier electronic music and rap, this is musical gold.
BY THOMAS BRAND
