Infinite Sounds UK: EP Review: The Chronicles Of Nefaeria Volume 1 by Ill Sykes

The Chronicles of Nefaeria Volume 1

Ill Sykes

Released at the end of October this year The Chronicles of Nefaeria Vol 1 is latest EP release from UK emcee Ill Sykes. The EP is produced by Relense and is released through Weaponize Records.

Described as a dark journey through the Land of Nefaeria - a fantastical urban sprawl juxtaposed with modern-day London, it features a host of features from fellow underground UK rappers Bxrbarian, Con-Vers, Jibbarish, King Kakarot, Lomax, Charles Sagan and Tesla’s Ghost. This pretty much tells us all we need to know before going into the EP, so I’m not going to keep you hanging around and do just that…

The EP kicks off with The Dark Sentencer where the beat hits heavy alongside some piano notes and an almost eerie sounding electronic vibe, giving this a dark sound that hits hard. The first two thirds of this track serve as an introduction to this nefarious personality that Sykes displays as he gives us a brief glimpse into Nefaeria. A dark evil place where everything is the dark opposite of current city life but, is it really the opposite or could it be what our current society really is when seen through the right filter? Just as you are contemplating these ideas the beat and Sykes flow switches, the beat becomes more head nod and loses the electronic vibe, sykes sound changes to a rawer edge, almost as if the narrative changes from the external to an internal monologue of his own thoughts speaking out loud. Strings, keys and what is almost a music box melody guide us into Spare A Penny, which features Bxrbarian, before the heavy beat drops in, pounding every aspect of your awareness and bringing a more boom bap sound but, with that dark edge. Here we begin to see more and more that Nefaeria is just a reflection of our current society. Sykes and Bxrbarian show us a dark place where the people exist and give themselves to the service of the ruling elite, working and suffering in service to the same, giving up everything just to be of service. With little brightness shining through the dark times, too tired and beaten down to awaken to the true nature of the world they live in. The final third of the track shows the nature, the dark side of our current prime minister showing his nefarious nature as he takes office, undoing the help of those who need it most.

Ghosts of Nafaeria hits with sound of bass and electric guitar at the forefront of the beat. This gives a vibe that stirs the adrenaline at the very core, just as if there is an expectation of something coming, immanently. Here we note that Sykes is not necessarily speaking of etheric ghosts haunting the streets of Nafaeria but, the ghostly nature of those whose home is the shadows, living just outside the reach of the people who walk the streets every day, preying on those who stray too far into the darkness. Then the beat switches, giving it a more eerie nature making you question the nature of those who live in Nefaeria’s shadows and here they seem to speak from the beyond, giving a small look into their world, the world of Nefaeria’s ghosts. A far easter vibe accompanies the heavy beat of Orwellian Nemesis, featuring Tesla’s Ghost, this is a look at the nature of the streets of Nefaeria after the sun goes down. A place where it’s not safe to walk and where confrontation and violence rule. Those streets are not the place to be even if you are going somewhere for pleasure, this is a place where pain is the order of business and even the simplest of tasks is taking your own life into your hands. This is something that seems to be echoed more and more on the streets of our cities, here in the now, they are not places where you want to be after dark.

Predators / The G Process has a pounding beat with a sound that has strings and tambourine which brings this ominous soundtrack vibe. As you can guess this track is split into two parts; the first explores the dread on the streets of Nefaeria where we explore just who are the predators that prowl the streets of the city, a city under siege from pain, suffering and death but, here there are no monsters or dangerous beasts, here it is those who control the city that cause all the pain and suffering of those who live, walk and work within its boundaries. The second part seems the sound become more sparce but, equally more sinister as The G Process is revealed by a voice from beyond the streets and beyond the darkness. This is a voice of those who create that darkness and control everything within Nefaeria. A jazzy sound draws us into The Shadow Realm and that jazzy sound serves as a brief moment of relief from the heavy drums and keys that create a cautious vibe as we walk the shadows of Nefaeria. The shadow realm of Nefaeria is a place inhabited by the ghosts but, beyond that it is a place where those who chose to step become one in the same with those ghosts. This is a place where the sun never shines and only dirt and grime cover the floors; it is a place where pain and suffering are the only way to live, a place love has abandoned, and despair is second nature. This is a bleak outlook but, is it any different from the way of own society is headed…

The EP ends with Giant’s / The Faces of Nefaeria, a posse cut style track which sees Ill Sykes joined by C.O.N-vers, Jibbarish, King Kakarot, Lomax, Charles Sagan and Bxrbarian. The drum beat takes the forefront here backed by keys, strings and more, creating a solid head nod sound. Here we find the Giants are the faces of Nefaeria, thse who choose to stand up and put everything on the line in order to try and free the city from grasp of those who control it but, the Dark Sentencer will not give up and Volume 1 of the Chronicles of Nefaeria ends with, what appears to be, a prelude to an epic battle between the forces of light and darkness. This is another paralellel to what we see happening around us now as we see more and more people standing up in support of the injustice they see around them, more and more voices standing together as one…

For a seven track EP, The Chronicles of Nefaeria Volume 1, elicits the kind of response and thought processes as an entire album of focused conscious Hip Hop. But then this is not a seven track EP of to minute tracks that are there for the enjoyment of the listener, no this EP is a deep twisting and turning look at a dark society that seems to have no hope save for a few brave souls prepared to stand up for what is right.

Nefaeria might be just an imaginary place that is juxtaposed to the vision of modern day London, here in the UK but, the nature of what Ill Sykes has created with some incredibly intricate storytelling, littered with intelligent similes and metaphoric views of such a dark dystopian place, where life is not that much different from the experiences we are all facing in light the on-going challenges constantly placed on our shoulders, where footing the bill for governing mismanagement of services and costs rise disproportionately against wages and benefits, is bringing the everyday person to their knees and seeing rises in the numbers of suicides and so on…

Some top-notch guest artists really bring some depth to the EP too, adding that extra dimension to those tracks. Exactly what you need on a release like this, and the choice of guest artists is inspired here.

Ill Sykes and Relense have put together a very competent release that brings together dark and imposing soundscapes with intricate and equally dark storytelling that does not just entertain but also gives much food for thought. There is also this desire to see what might come with Volume 2. Will see the story play out from where this EP leaves off or could there be even more twists and turns before we see a culmination to The Chronicles of Nefaeria.

If you have not heard this one yet, then it is well worth you time to check out as it is taking the art of Hip Hop storytelling to new hights. There is also a limited-edition vinyl version too for those of you who love the classic sound.

The Chronicles of Nefaeria Volume 1 is out now on Weaponize Records.

On that note,

Time for me to be out.

See Ya,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab you copy of the EP on Bandcamp Here:

https://weaponizerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-chronicles-of-nefaeria-volume-1

Links for Ill Sykes:

https://illsykes.bandcamp.com/

http://twitter.com/illsykes

http://www.facebook.com/IllSykesofficial