Album Review: After The Party by Mackenzie

 

After The Party

By

Mackenzie

 

It is not very often that a submission gets lost in the haze of digital clutter. However, that is just what happened with today’s review.

After The Party comes from Scottish rapper, producer, promoter and videographer Mackenzie. The album was released back in Mid-2025, so it had to go to the top of the list.

Mackenzie, a veteran of the Scottish Hip Hop scene, who crafted a name for himself across fifteen years working in multi-disciplines. Alongside having significant impact on the scene and culture, Mackenzie has also made a mark on the battle rap scene across the last decade. He has competed both in the UK and US, across renown platforms such as Don’t Flop, Premier Battles, King of the Dot, and iBattle. Between 2016 and 2023 he ran the Scottish battle rap league Iron Barz which provided a platform for both new and emerging talent across Scotland.

After The Party marks a new chapter in MacKenzie’s artistic journey—a reflection of growth, resilience, and an evolving understanding of both his craft and the world around him. The album, which produced and written by Mackenzie, looks at the ups and downs of the Scottish party scene:

 With a mix of hard-hitting storytelling, sharp social commentary, and a matured perspective, the album also examines the evolution of both the artist and the Scottish hip-hop scene. While some tracks take a tongue-in-cheek approach to party life, others serve as a serious reflection on addiction, excess, and societal norms. At its core, "After The Party" is a project of balance—one that offers both anthems to motivate and uplift, as well as cautionary tales for those lost in the haze of late-night indulgence.

The album also features a mix of featured artists in Wends, who is a powerful female dub and reggae artist, Gluco, a Glasgow based rapper, and RamZee, a female rapper and spoken word artist.

With all that said, I now invite you join me as I take my own look at After The Party…

 

Our night, or nights, out with Mackenzie begin with the album’s title track After The Party. This one has a sound that gets your head spinning, mixing the sounds along the way from heavy bass and pounding sounds to more relaxed sounds. There is a vibe that has a grime, trap edge to it too. Mackenzie immerses us deep in mind numbing vibe that takes you to the very edge of your sanity. This is the place you find yourself in following a heavy party night and what happens afterward, where are you going and where will you find yourself in morning. This is a place where alcohol impacts your memory, but the desire for enjoying moment overrides all else. It is clear, now, that we have been dropped in at the deep end here and now move on to Lie Like That, where the sound is on that grime edge with pounding bass, cymbals ticking and keys tweaking your nerves. This one took we a while to get to terms with but, as I listened there seemed to be this element of wrestling with yourself, and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes it is just easier not to be completely honest with where you are going and what you are doing; and that can be as much about lying to yourself as to those around you. This might not be exactly what Mackenzie was putting across but, it was what it said to me as I listened. Total Satisfaction features Wends and brings more of a raggae infused sound, but still with a heavy edge to it that vibrates through your whole body. Wends not only drops a verse here but, adds some soulful vocals on the chorus that brings a lighter moment to a track that examines how that darker side of your nature will always look to feed its desires, regardless of what is going on in your life. You might be struggling from day to day, and yet you still find the means to go out and feed on whatever brings those good feelings and helps you forget everything else.

Guitar vibes and cuts bring in Slow Down, a proper head nod vibe for all the real headz out there. Juxtaposed to the title, this one will have you bouncing. There are also two parts to this track as the beat switches, a little over mid-way through. This shows the distinct difference those who chose to slow down on a night out, taking it easy when called for. Which is opposed to those who chose to keep going, spiralling downward at full speed, because to slow down would mean to allow the intrusive thoughts to surface. So, they keep going, regardless of the consequences. Long Walk Home features Gluco and a sound that has a pounding beat with a huge horn sound which keeps your head nodding. There are few among us who cannot relate to this one as Mackenzie and Gluco speak on those long walks home after a night out, as the alcohol influence begins to subside and you ponder the nights events, something which can range from remembering everything to the times you question where you have been and who you were there with? Bounce begins with a more chilled vibe with that reverse sound that tweaks your nervous system. Once the beat kicks in it amps things up a few notches. Mackenzie switches his flows here back and forth, mirroring your thoughts as you begin to question your life, looking toward something better, but wondering if that will really happen. This is like the wake up call to a life that has been spiralling out of control, and you suddenly begin to understand that there is more to life.

Don’t Leave My Side brings a far more laid-back sound that is comprised of guitars and vocal samples. This one has a thoughtful vibe about it which brings an energy of someone wrestling with their thoughts and feelings as they look both within and at the world around them. These are the kinds of things that happen to us as we let go of the party life and reconnect with the world. It also makes us realise that we lose so many along the way, in different ways, and all we really want is someone or something which will always be there for us, especially when we need them most. Lift takes the adrenaline levels up once more with a pulse pounding beat, bass notes and synth vibes, which combine to lift you up once more. Here that is a shift in the idea of what the party culture is from a drug and alcohol induced downward spiral, to an energy that speaks to everyone, using you craft to inspire the listeners; bringing the party vibe to uplift, in a way that is not self-centred but, is there for the culture and those who look to you for something more. Don’t Speak (It’s Over) features RamZee and has a sound that uses No Doubt’s Don’t Speak but merges it with a more modern sound which has a trap edge to it, giving the whole thing a heavy vibe. There is a heaviness to this as it looks at a relationship break up, one of the sad things that can happen when you spend too much time focusing on your own selfish needs and not those closest to you, those who truly love you.

The Penultimate track of the album is Poison which has a beat that seems to vibrate throughout your mind, with guitar notes and synth vibes, all of which come together with an energy that seeps inside, holding your attention all the while. This one is a deep track that looks at how the poison is the mind state of the weekend being your escape from everyday life and getting through the week is just something you do in between those moments of escape. The desire to get through the week and the conflict it can produce, means the weekend becomes more of an escape and the poison takes more of a hold. You have to recognise you are poisoning yourself before you can heal. The album ends on With Us. This one hits with a heavy sound and vocal sample that has this powerful sound, with the beat hitting it all combines to bring a heavy sound that has a deep vibe to it. The beat also switches toward the end becoming a heavy drum beat to round the track out. There is very much a vibe to this one which is looking towards a higher power to be with you as you navigate your way in a world away from excess. This is a way to find peace in a world of chaos, be it with god, your own god or even the energy and memory of a passed loved one.

 

Now, every review has its challenges, some are easier than others, and this one certainly had its challenges, some of which may stem from my own situation. This might mean that some of the interpretations might have missed the mark originally intended by Mackenzie. That is something I enjoy about music is that it can take you to many places, depending on your own situation at the time of listening.

Mackenzie has crafted something here that will probably speak to our Scottish neighbours instantly, but it might take time for others to really get into it. However, there is a nice mix of influences within this album which will make it one of those that can be enjoyed by a fairly wide variety of listeners. The roots are in that Hip Hop and rap scene, but there are enough other vibes that it will appeal to those who like grime, trap, and other vibes too. It just takes a good ear to give it the right listen.

Something that is also worthy of note is the depth of the story telling across the album. Mackenzie delivers some just for fun energy while packing in some raw and, deeply personal vibes which come from not just his own lived experience but, those of friends too, and if you take that time to listen, there is a progression to the storytelling in that it covers the fun of a night out but, also speaks on the flip side of that, the addiction to that party culture and the problems that can arise as a result. There is also a grown man edge that opens you up to the realisations of what you have become immersed in and what happens when you take the time to accept that and work to become a better person, finding your true self and letting it shine through.

It is clear that Mackenzie has put the work in over the years developing a wide range of flows and intricate wordplay, giving him a platform to easily be able to pursue a cross genre career if he so chooses. The broad Scottish accent will mean that some listeners will need to give his work an extra listen to fully appreciate it, but this is the authentic sound we want to hear on the vocals and it grounds in Scotland and speaks volumes on where he is from. His production work is solid and gives each track the right sound and energy to allow you to take in the message, at least the message that it speaks to you in the moment. Also, his choice of feature artists is spot on as each, whether you know them or not, bring a solid performance and adding exactly what was needed to compliment Mackenzie's sound and message.

What After The Party goes to prove is that the Hip Hop and Rap scene is huge in Scotland and is helping to keep the scene alive the world over with a diverse range of artists bringing their own energy to the mix and Mackenzie is certainly one of those. So, anyone who has not checked out his work yet, should definitely give him a listen and this album is the perfect starting point.

After The Party is out now.

Huge thanks to my good friend Conscious Route for bringing this one to my attention.

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab or stream the Album Here:

https://mackenzie.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-party

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2tcp9R71FS8noRgUrtxwNM

Mackenzie Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/mackenziescottishrap/

https://www.facebook.com/mackenziescottishrap

https://www.youtube.com/@MackenziePro

VIDEOS

Don't Speak (It's Over) ft RamZee

Lie Like That

Total Satisfaction ft Wends

Bounce

 

Album Review: Electric Sun by Immune

 

Electric Sun

By

Immune

 

It’s been nearly three years since Immune first entered the scene with their debut release Sub-Atomic Boom Bap and a Fistful of Rap But, now the intercontinental duo of Psykoid (aka Remark, UK) and Cylas (aka Silas, Switzerland) are back with their sophomore album Electric Sun.

Their debut release took us beyond the three dimensional reality into a digital reality where boom bap Hip Hop was merged with a myriad of other musical influences and raw, no nonsense lyrics. Since that time the world has changed little, and if anything has become more of troubled place for all of us. So, what does this mean for Immune and how will they reflect this or where will they take us under the gaze of the Electric Sun?

A nerve shredding electrical sound greats us as the opening of Stay Immune, and you can almost feel yourself being separated into your component parts as you begin the journey into a new digital reality where you see what happens from a brand new viewpoint. The beat kicks in with a heavy electronic vibe which sees Cylas shaking the very atoms that make up your body. Remark brings a simple but important massage here which is to stay true to who you are and the natural world around you, and to stay immune to a world full of doom. Wise words indeed, because if you slip for a moment the darkness in this world will consume you. Piercing electronic notes draw us into Sooner or Later before a heavy bassline pounds the very air around us and a high speed electronic ticking tests your nerves and wonder if you’re whole or still separated into a billion pieces. The message here permeates every atom of your being, reflecting the sad reality that money is given more importance that our health and the population of the planet is kept in a perpetual state of fear, one that makes them easier to control as you believe that the powers-that-be are helping, when what they are doing is controlling and becoming rich of the pain and suffering. Next up, is Cynicalside a heavy electronic storm of a track that invades your awareness and holds your attention. This one might have a cynical view of the world around us but, is it really that far from the truth? This is a world where self-interest is rife, and people’s sincerity and integrity are drawn into question on so many levels. This is a world where commercialism and labels rule, keeping our focus from the very real issues we face every day. As long as you are paying the price and being kept happy by the things you own and the way you present yourself to the world, you will always be kept in line and slave to the system.

PSYKOiD brings a heavy beat with a more downbeat electronic vibe which is pierced by more electronic ticking. Pounding your awareness into submission PSYKOiD gives us a deep look at the persona he brings to the mic. Many might consider him a psycho because he is not you, him or her, but sometimes you have to be cold and calculating to be able to take a stand against those who seek to keep people as ‘sheeple’. PSYKOiD is a revolutionary for a new era, where purity, a knowledge of self, and an understanding of the true nature of nature is key to the ushering in of a new age. Devil on the Shoulder drop with a sound that seems to have some influence from John Carpenter mixed in with its weirdly head nod electronic sound. Listening to this one, you might think it is just an attack on the idea of a minimum wage; while it does have that edge to it, it goes deeper to because it looks at how the idea that people in power can actually think they can calculate what is the minimum amount a person or family can live on is ludicrous. The cost of living changes day-to-day and yet income does not, benefits are cut, and it is those most at risk that are made to pay the price. The more you struggle with this, the more that devil on your shoulder will get a voice that will make you kick back and say, ‘fuck that’. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly sees Cylas morph into Silas who steps up to the mic alongside PSYKOiD. The beat has a vibe that has shades of Kraftwerk alongside its pounding sound, giving it a subtle head nod vibe. This one has a more venomous edge to it as it looks at the different types of people, we have around us and their characters. I’m not going to try and comment on what Silas speaks on in his native tongue, but there is that edge to the vocals that says there are no ‘fucks given’ here. It’s time to look at yourself here and decide just where you fit on the scale.

Sermon of the Dead has this sonic vibe that floats though your awareness, like smoke that has a razor sharp edge, while the bridge has an eerie vibe that tweaks your nerves. What would the dead say if they could talk to you? How would they tell you view life and what is most important to help you negotiate the hurdles that are placed in front of you? Perhaps they would tell you to listen to the universe, have knowledge of the self, don’t believe all you are told, and be the change you wish to see? Perhaps they would say this and much more, just listen to the sermon and what it says to you. From the dead, we move to the views of The Seer. The beat pounds here as sonic sounds abound, spinning you mind out of control. Here the seer is PSYKOiD who brings us a bleak look at the world around us but, he also gives us some cryptic insights into how we can move forward in a positive way, one that will give us all an equal standing and an equal voice.

The penultimate track on the album is Logan’s Run, here the sonic, electric vibes twist the very limits of what your mind can handle, taking you into a very distressing view of the future; but is it that far into the future. This one looks at how society is run, like the movie and TV series of the same name, it looks at how the old are cast out and the young take their place. Those who chose to stand against this way of living are hunted and find there is nowhere to run or to hide. In our society, it seems that it is not just the old who are cast aside but, the infirm, the physically and mentally challenged, are all looked on as a drain on society and should be treated with contempt and not the respect they so often deserve. The album ends with The Sun Is Dark, which was originally released as a single in March 2024. A pounding beat is backed by electronic vibes and a vocal bridge with a darker edge, giving you the sense of a bleak outlook for the future. This one looks at the rise of the digital world that keeps people in a controlled state, where all you do is covertly monitored under the guise of giving you a better digital experience. There is a way to buck the system and beat the algorithms, that is not to give your soul to the digital age but, know it has its place and that you are in control of that. Don’t let sun and the skies darken, keep the sun shining upon us, don’t let them win…

 

What is apparent here is that with Electric Sun, Cylas has stepped a little further away from the Hip Hop foundations of the debut album, although there are still glimpses of it throughout. Now, the sound as a more alternative, electronic, and sonic sound, and what that does is to git it that digital vibe that fits with how our current society is heading, towards a future where digital and AI may control most aspects of our lives. Could it be that the world that was portrayed in the Matrix movies is not that far away? But, by giving the album that futuristic edge to the sound makes it a potent message.

Remark still gives us vocals where we can hear every line, which is vital for the album as it helps us understand the bigger picture. His lyrics have a huge impact on you as they are politically and spiritually charged, often speaking directly to your higher self, although you might not realise that. You can feel the emotive edge in every word he says, using bars that are intelligently crafted and flows that twist and weave their way through your psyche.

It has to be said that Electric Sun might not be to everyone’s taste with its futuristic rap sound and the fact that there are elements of the kind of genres that are very niche, but there are elements of sounds that were influential in the rise of the early Hip Hop sound, you just have to catch them. So, this one might have a unique sound but, the core messages held within those ten tracks are very important right now, because if society keeps going the way it is, then perhaps your grandchildren might look at films like the Matrix as far more prophetic.

Electric Sun is definitely one to check out and get you own take on. It was released on April 21^st and is available for you to check out now. I also had the pleasure to help PSYKOiD film some of the visuals for the video to Cynicalside, so check the videos below.

My humble thanks to Remark and Silas for the chance to bring you my take on this.

On that note,

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://immunemusic.bandcamp.com/album/electric-sun

Immune Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/psykoid_immune/

https://www.instagram.com/cylas_dnb/

https://www.youtube.com/@immunevideos

VIDEOS

Stay Immune

Cynicalside

 

The Sun is Dark