Backxwash
Only Dust Remains
Ugly Hag
If we’re talking about heavy records, lyrically and tonally speaking this album is one of the heaviest of the year. Backxwash is a rapper but that seems to do her a disservice as she’s definitely a poet. Historically Backxwash has collaborated with Pupil Slicer and is no stranger to distortion and noise. This album is heavy in another respect, although guitars do sneak in and out of the mix and the drums are definitely of the pummeling kind. On opener Black Lazarus Backxwash implores us, “pray for me, ain’t no one here saving me.” Following up lead single Wake Up screams at us to do exactly that. Her vocal delivery has a hundred times more rage than any cookie cutter deathcore performance. This album is heavy because it is as real as it gets with lines like, “maybe it’s disingenuous or maybe I realised the fact that I don’t love myself.” Backxwash literally sounds like she’s grabbing you and making an impassioned plea for deliverance. Elsewhere on Disassociation she honestly opens up about drug use and depression in such a Frank way its utterly disarming. In another strong release year this release shows how heavy hip hop can be and it’s heavier than any metal I’ve heard. Listen to the climax of History Of Violence or the transcendental Stairway To Heaven where she raps over a soaring drumless guitar solo. Backxwash has, once again, outdone herself as she does on every outing and you should really get to know her.
Review by George Miller