End Of The
World
By
Sublime
Wizardry
It’s been nearly ten years since we last heard from Sublime
Wizardry and twelve years since their last LP was released. But now two of the
original members, Remark and Merlin, have reunited to bring that unique blend
of European and UK Hip Hop back, and if they are back then you can be rest
assured that they have something to say…
The new album is entitled End Of The World, which
seems pretty apt right now, in light of what is happening around the world. The
album is self-released, like most of their back catalog. Now, anyone who is
familiar with their previous releases will be eagerly anticipating this one so,
I’m not gonna keep you waiting, let’s get into it…
The album is fifteen tracks deep and kicks off with Welcome
In The End which serves as the albums intro. But there is no easing you
into this one as Merlin creates this mind-bending sound that has a foundation
of a drum beat but, over this is this twisted mix of sonic sounds and more,
which serves to give it a somewhat dark and unhinged vibe. Remark brings some
almost spoken word lyrics that do nothing to alleviate the impact on your mind.
But this is all about puling no punches and exposing the true reality of the
world around you. With your mind literally ripped open we dive straight into
the first single released from the album, Man Bites Dog. Big orchestral
notes and piano frame the heavy boom bap style beat getting you nodding your
head as you are drawn to Remarks vocals. There seems to be a lot here about the
misdirection that is put in front of us every day, how the powers that be
utilise the media to twist the narrative to their own ends; to justify their
evil agendas. You need to raise your own energy above this to help you
understand what’s going on and to see it for what it truly is. With your mind
opened up you begin to see where this is taking you and so we move on to the Archons,
where we see a huge energy shift as Merlin brings a huge sound that takes the
drum beat and places strings and horns over it, he then mixes in some sonic
vibes that once more twist your awareness beyond the 3D world. This one appears
to take a look at the armies of the world, those who march into battle but, we
see that in so many conflicts these armies are made up of ordinary people who
are thrust into horrors of war to protect what they can from the power hungry.
These conflicts feel less like wars and more like the satisfaction of a blood
lust for money and power.
Fall Down sees a proper drum beat merge with some big
orchestral sounds and piano to bring us a vibe that injects your veins with a
hit of adrenaline. This one looks at the fact that those who perpetrate the
lies and twist the truth to their own ends, will eventually fall from all they
have built up around them and will shown for what they truly are. Drums and
sonic sounds merge and intertwine on Shadows In The Dark, creating the
kind of vibe that has you constantly looking over your shoulder. Remark brings
an almost spoken word stance here as he opens up about the one place where few
chose to look. That place in beyond darkness of closed eyes and into the world
of our own shadow side. This is something few do but, when you do confront and
work with your shadow side, bringing balance to your true self, the benefits
are beyond what you might think. You just have to find the courage to face it
within yourself. Merlin brings another mind-numbing sound of drums and
electronic sounds on Face The Fear, where he also brings in some eerie
piano to further stretch your already frayed nerves. Remark speaks directly to
your soul with lyrics that seem as twisted as the sound but, the message is
simple here, the one way to escape the constant barrage of negativity that is
thrust before you everyday is just to face that fear head on. The more you do
this the cloak of deceit will fall away and you will be able to see the truth
and live that truth.
The Serpent and Dove has this huge organ sound over
the drumbeat, this gives way to synth vibes which gives this one a sound that is
straight out of a John Carpenter movie. The serpent and dove and the very
definition of good and evil, truth and lies, war and peace, and that seems to
be reflected in remarks lyrics here where its all about the battles we all face
between what is right and wrong as we walk the journey of life. Piano and synth
vibes bring us into Allies and Enemies before the beat kicks in and the
energy ramps up. This one is a natural progression from the previous track,
another aspect of the light and dark sides of life, where things can change so
easily, and we so often do not see the truth of who is who but, by walking our
paths in the light and coming from the heart in all we do, makes it so much
easier to understand who stands with us in the light and who stands close but
in the shadows. They Got Em hits with a heavy sound that has this heavy
drum beat over which is this multi-layered sound with piano, electronic vibes
and so much more. This serves to raise the adrenaline levels once more as the
guys take a look at tyranny and democracy. There is little you can say about
this one but, it goes on around us every day, the governments use lies and the
media to control us, keeping us exactly where they want us, in a place of
perpetual fear, where they look like the only saviours.
Crazy Shit twists your mind with a heavy beat, heavy
horns, sonic sounds and eerie vocal samples. This might seem like the weird
part of some messed up movie but, really this one is just paralleling how our
minds get stretched to the limit by what we see and what happens around us. It
feels like everything is spiralling out of control and everyone is losing their
minds or perhaps they are simply giving in to the sheep mentality? Who knows
what the truth is but, it takes a strong heart to find the peace in all this. Thunder,
heavy drums and bass alongside sonic sounds, bells and more form the soundscape
of Bang On, which will have you bouncing no doubt. For me, this seemed
to say a lot about always speaking your truth no matter what. There might be no
one listening to what you have to say but, it is important that you continue to
speak that truth because it is the essence of who you are. The minute you lose
your truth, you become one of the sheep, so keep banging on because sooner or
later, the truth will out. Reality or Fantasy sees the guys bringing
more truth, and here its all about what situation we choose to live in? Do you
want to live the reality of the 3D world or in a fantasy world, maybe similar
to the matrix, where nothing is real. Our own reality might be harsh and
difficult for us to navigate, at times but, at least we have a say over how our
journey plays out. The fantasy world might seem that way too but, it is more
likely to be a controlled environment where you will never have control over
anything. Which one seems more appealing…
A huge mix of pounding drums, orchestral notes and guitar
note creates this heavy soundscape that almost blows you away on Dark Riders.
It took a minute to grasp this one but, it really speaks on the futility of
conflict and war. The dark riders are those who bring war, death and
destruction, where no one wins; even those who appear to win are left with the
indelible mark of what they have done, something that lives with them always.
The albums penultimate track is also the albums title track, End Of The World.
The beat, organ sounds and orchestral sections, bring a slightly uplifting vibe
that eases the weight of what has gone before. The message here is no less
potent that the rest of the album, it just delivered in a way that sums up the
calm before the end. This one is like a summing up of what has gone before, making
peace with everything before you let it all go, watching the sun set one last
time as the human race all but passes from existence. Even at the end there is
a glimmer of hope that a new life will rise and perhaps we are Still
Breathing; this one serves like the outro, leaving us with one last hope.
The drums are heavy, alongside organ notes, sonic vibes and the sound of a
Geiger counter clicking. There is a sense here that nothing has truly ended,
and this is a final ode to what has gone before and a hope of what is to come.
The return of Sublime Wizardry brings us a dark vision of a
world inhabited by a dying race. A race that has killed itself through greed
and self-destruction. Only those who were truly awakened to the truth were able
to survive and be the seeds of a new hope. That is exactly how this album seems
as you progress through it. The main thing here is not sugar coat the reality
of what is going on in the world around us. It is about being honest that the
few will always seek to control the many through a self-centred greed of wealth
and power.
Yes, there is a sense that all is not lost and that there
are those who are waking up to stark truth of the reality we live in. People
who see it for what it is and are looking for ways to bring balance back to our
society and the world we live in. Because it is not just the human race that
needs saving but, the natural world too.
Sublime Wizardry brings a dystopian future to bear on End Of
The World both through Merlin’s deep and at times, dark soundscapes that create
all sorts of visions in your mind as you listen. Then Remark brings his own
conscious lyrics forth, creating a description that is only to real but, that stark
reality and those visions are almost softened into the background at time as
his vocals seem to create a vibe that is juxtaposed to sound and the content of
what you hear. It is like an elder is telling these stories to a youth who are
going to be the new race and the harsh stories must be given with a sense of ease
to soften the blow as it were…
End Of The World is a solid album that will elicit many
different emotions as you listen. The impact of both the vocal and production
is intense and almost brings a new edge to the notion of conscious Hip Hop.
End Of The World is something you need to hear and Remark
and Merlin have brought Sublime Wizardry back with an insightful and pounding
impact.
End Of The World is out now.
My humble Thanks to Remark for helping me bring this one to
you.
See you next time,
Steve
LINKS
Grab your copy here:
https://sublimewizardry.bandcamp.com/album/end-of-the-world
Sublime Wizardry Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024269809312
VIDEOS
Man Bites Dog
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