Beautiful Death Machine

Audio Mixer: Mike Kumagai.
Recording information: Madchild's Loft; The Chamber Studio, Vancouver, BC, Canada; the Kitchen.
Arranger: Rob the Viking.
If beautiful death machines are low-riders fitted with Gatling guns as the cover to this release suggests, then Swollen Members are underground hip-hop's auditory equivalent with street lyrics being rapidly blasted out on the group's tenth album. Big highlights here have to be the posse cuts with "Death to You" featuring Vinnie Paz, Ill Bill, and Slaine all mixing it up with the Members while Esoteric, Celph Titled, and Apathy guest star on "Colossal Beats," a giant monster movie on wax. The Members-only cuts are nearly as hot with "Bax War" (a twitchy, strident swagger anthem that creeps right up the spine) and "Juggernaut" (another giant monster movie, but with a weird electro soundtrack) leading the pack. C-Lance, Rob the Viking, and Aspect handle the production on this busy, word-filled, and winning effort. ~ David Jeffries