I was more than a wee bit excited when I  got asked to do an exclusive pre-release review of the USA’s west coasts premier psychedelic-hip-hop-stoner-punk-rock band – Kottonmouth Kings. Years ago I was introduced to the Kottonmouth Kings via listening to Insane Clown Posse as the two regularly tour together and indeed they even feature on this album. The album drops on August 28th but until then you can get a taste via my magical words. Oh and the album is very NSFW, so probably not one for the family BBQ!

“Our City” opens the album with a bang and sets the stall out, so to speak. The beat bangs as the chorus comes in and won’t leave your brain for days, the lyrics are slick and on point with the track immediately bringing that west coast style that’s so famous. “Life In The Kingdom” later in the album takes this style even further and bristles with G-Funk flavour, there’s a bit of old school here and it’s more than welcome.

This is followed by Songs like “Kronitron” “Audio War” that bring more of that fast paced ferocious style that, along with their love of weed, really define the KMK’s. Not as fast but heavy on the bass and slightly more aggressive are tracks like “Keep It Movin” “TBH” and “Crack The Fame” – this is big black trucks with tinted window type music. As well as straight up hip-hop the KMK also show their love of reggae with tracks like “Pump Up Da Bass” “Don’t Feel Down” and “Good Time Zone”. “Mary Jane” and “Ganja Glow” really makes no bones about subject matter and carry on the reggae influences melding well with the west coast flows.  These are feel time tracks regardless of how inebriated you are, it’s nice to have this level of positivity. “Sink Or Swim” is a particular highlight bringing in much more of a straight up punk style to the album and all the energy that comes with it. It’s brash, noisy and just something a bit different.

Party tracks like “Fill your cup” and “Dope Thang” are bangers, made to played loud and enjoyed with a crowd, the kind of tracks you hope to hear at a KMK live show. “F*ck Off” features ICP and seems to be a bit of a call back to Shaggy 2 Dope’s solo track “FTFO”. The KMK and ICPs’ styles have always melded well and this is no exception, it feels familiar and new at the same time.

For all the bravado, party times, weed smoking tales, the album ends with the hyper realistic slower paced “Time”. This is a great end of the album, reflecting on what’s passed and real and important to the KMK, it sounds a bit deep and I guess it is, but it uses that depth for a positive spin and really is a nice footnote to end the album on.

For Fans Of – Cypress Hill, ICP, Dr Dre, Transplants

KMK Krown Power

Chris Caldwell

Author: Chris Caldwell

Chris Caldwell at your service! My favourite things are eating and Theatre, I have 2 small sons called Alex and Max who are more mustard than Hellmann's. I spend my days trying to wrangle them and exploring my favourite city - BELFAST! My favourite films are horror, my fav music is metal and my favourite Beatle is Ringo, mainly his work on Thomas the Tank.