Antarctica 2 –
Hollow Earth
By
Sicarii &
Wolf T. Calzone’
It was a few months back that Wolf T. Calzone’ and Sicarii
first came to my attention on the album Iron Curtain by Myalansky, which was
produced by Wolf T. Calzone’ and featured Sicarii. That album also had features
from CISE and Haylo Da G.O.D, who also feature here as well.
Now I am always intrigued by music that references subject
matter that I have an interest in. Having an interest in subjects such as
Ufology, you invariably come upon things like, the Hollow Earth theory and
more, so this one definitely captured my attention. Antarctica 2 – Hollow
Earth, Released in March 2026, is a follow up to 2022’s Antarctica which
Sicarii released alongside producer Danny Caiazzo.
Even reading some of the track titles, from both albums,
there is a definite esoteric theme running through and it will be interesting
to see what this all brings up.
So, let’s get straight into it…
We begin our journey with the Intro, this sets up the
tone of the album with hints of the ancient cultures who have stories of a
world within the earth where an advanced race flourished. The sound is
laid-back and carries you into the album with a hint of mysticism. From there
we advance forward to Speaking Rhetorically, here piano notes hit as
heavy as the beat while occasional vocal sounds keep you from going too deep by
screaming you back to reality. The title of this one is not lost on me as the
cleaver wordplay seems to invite you to look beyond superficial and to dig
deeper. It has this air about it that says there is more to life, you just need
to look in the right place and educate yourself. With that thought in mind we
progress to the High Evolutionary. Here heavy drums and guitar notes get
your body moving and your head nodding. This one seems to explore the darker
side of human nature, which feels juxtaposed to title of the track. There is
also another thought this brings to mind, which is the idea that being exposed
to things of a higher evolutionary nature can cause those who are not ready to
understand, to spiral one way or the other.
VantaBlack 2 brings a heavy sound that mixes with
vocal samples and sounds that have a middle eastern vibe, giving this one a
sound that invites the whole body to move. This one appears to continue the
theme of the darker side of things, but here it more focused on the darker side
of what goes on around us, from wars to how clandestine agencies operate.
VantaBlack is the darkest material know to exist. A coating of vertically
aligned carbon nanotubes that absorb 99.965% of visible light. Strategems drops
with banging beat backed by a nerve-jangling electronic sound and some classic
vocal samples that get you bouncing. This one is a mind-bending display of
complex wordplay and lyricism that has you questioning exactly where this one
is taking you. Just when you think you have is worked out, Sicarii spins you
off in another direction once more, making you rethink things over and over
again. The sound of Basuco has a more reggae vibe to it giving you a
moment to sit back and let the words float by. This one takes you off into the
world of drugs and what they can destroy within you, while giving you that
uplifting feel you crave. For anyone not aware Basuco is the name for a
low-grade of cocaine, especially when it is mixed with tobacco and cannabis.
Parliament of Trees mixes piano notes with a heavy
drumbeat. This one gets your head nodding while the lyrics hit you full on.
What struck me about this one was what it said to me as I listened. There was
this distinct feeling that the parliament of trees are those with fixed opinions
and fixed ideas, never willing to look beyond what is right in front of them or
question the very nature of the reality they live in. Here its about being
fluid, filling yourself with knowledge. Those who stay fixed will be the ones
who lead us towards a fate that could reset life. Cise features on Rot in
Purgatory alongside Sicarii. The sound here has horns, cuts, and the type
of drumbeat that is strangely infectious, making you grin and nod you head
along. This one is a solid display of lyricism from both emcees that gives you
a moment just to enjoy things. There are still elements that touch on the
metaphysical, giving you the occasional pause for thought as you catch them.
From purgatory we escape to Mega City 2 where the sound has a jazzy edge
to it with horns and guitars over a more chilled drumbeat. Here Sicarii spins words
that have the effect of making question the reality of what you’re hearing and
looking somewhat differently at the reality you are living in, in the moment…
Humanoids Interlude brings a sound that spins a heavy
drumbeat with guitar notes and vocal samples to brings a vibe that has an eerie
edge to it. The sampled vocals here are of an interview where the woman
involved describes humanoids who are based under the Antarctic ice. I have come
across these stories before and they are the things let you open your mind,
just a little, to what is actually going on in Antarctica. A place where around
30 countries govern under the 1959 Antarctica Treaty System which prohibits
military activity, mining, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. Haylo
Da G.O.D joins Sicarii for Ouroboros where bass guitar draws us in
before beat hits with an eerie mix of keys, horns and vocal samples giving this
one a thoughtful tone. This one might take a few listens, but the more you
listen, the more you realise that this one is all about cycles and unity. When
you fully unite with something, the whole becomes stronger. Such as the cycle
of life and this is where the title comes in as Ouroboros (Uroboros) is an
ancient symbol depicting a snake or dragon eating its own tail, symbolising
life, death and rebirth. Vespas hits with a heavy beat and big horns
that give this one a vibe that has that soundtrack feel running through it but
still hits hard. Try as I might I could not track down the movie sample used
here, but that is not going to take away from this. This one hits with more
than a hint of that rap braggadocio as Sicarii drops bar after bat that
demonstrates why he is at the top of his game right now.
Khonshu has a pounding beat with keys and guitar
elements that hits your ears with the force of an explosive soundwave. There is
a sense of duality within this one, someone wrestling with a conscience or
higher guiding power. This experience causes you to go from one extreme to the
next as look to understand, control, or work with what is happening. Khonshu is
based on the Egyptian god of the moon, time, and vengeance, Khonsu. Khonshu is
the name used with in Marvel comics as the guiding force behind the character
Moon Knight. The album’s penultimate track is Maelstrom; the sound is
heavy with strings that give this one a lighter tone and slightly more upbeat.
The essence of this one is the turmoil that exists within our own societies and
even within the circles that examine conspiracies and so one. The turmoil
exists as there will always be beliefs that counter each other, even in spite
of the evidence that exists one way or the other. The album ends with Apostrophe
with features Brian Butler on guitar. The beat, flute and guitar give this one
a vibe that provokes a sense of reflectiveness. This one really made me think
and what it really spoke to me was the use of Apostrophe. The origin of the
word comes from the French for elision or suppression, and that really sticks
out here. The suppression of the truth both in the present and the suppression
of historical truths too. So much of the truth has been suppressed over time
that most look on those truths as myth or legend rather that what they really
represent, and that may well relate to the truth of what is going on in
Antarctica and why it is kept protected.
What strikes you immediately is the depth and complex nature
of Sicarii’s wordplay and lyricism. What he does with his words leads the
listener on a search for the truth, the truth of what you are hearing. So, many
will listen and think that every track is fire and hits hard, but they will not
truly understand exactly what is being said. Fewer will here this and want to
listen deeper so that they can grasp the essence of what is said, while still
fewer will listen and immediately realise that there is more to those words and
want to understand.
It is the shear complex nature of Sicarii’s words also
reflect the complex nature of stories and conspiracy theories that surround
subject matter such as Antarctica and the whole Hollow Earth theory. I could
deep dive here into the stories of Admiral Byrd, Nazi Bases, UFOs and more but,
we would be here for ever. Sicarii has taken those stories and merged them with
his craft to bring you an album that does not just look at Antarctica, but also
looks at human nature, society and how truth and lies are so intertwined in everyday
life that we need to be careful what we take as truth and be open to anything
that might reflect the real truth behind what we see and hear. The fact that
Sicarii does not shy away from looking at the more esoteric subjects is all
power to him for shining a light on what most people immediately dismiss.
Wolf T. Calzone does such a great job of mixing banging Hip
Hop beats with a wealth of sounds that create some intense sound scapes that
perfectly reflect the intricate nature of what Sicarii is putting across and
how that mirrors what happens in the world around us. This deep-rooted sound
helps bring the enjoyment from the album but, also gives us the depth needed to
open our minds to the nature of what the words bring.
CISE and Haylo Da G.O.D. bring their own lyrical prowess to
proceedings, and this just compliments the album and does not over complicate
things with too many feature verses.
My advice here is for you to go have a listen and see where
the story telling takes you.
I have to give huge thanks, once again, to the man John
Dugen, JD Hip Hop Reviews for sending this one my way. Big up my man.
Antarctica 2: Hollow Earth is available now through Bella
Ciao Records.
Be seeing you again,
Steve.
LINKS
Grab your copy here:
https://sicariiarafat.bandcamp.com/album/a2-hollow-earth
Sicarii on Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/sicariilastarchon/
Wolf T. Calzone' on Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/wolf_calzone/
Bella Ciao Records:
https://www.instagram.com/bella_ciao_records/
https://www.youtube.com/@fgivoriginalart
VIDEOS
Vespas
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