Album Review: Antarctica 2: Hollow Earth

 

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

Album Review: Iron Curtain by Myalansky

 

Iron Curtain

By

Myalansky

It has been some time since I last reviewed anything that had a connection to Wu-Tang Clan. That was 2^nd Generation Wu, who featured on UK producer Planky’s single Rescue Me, back in 2023. Now I have the chance to be able to review some more Wu affiliate music courtesy of fellow reviewer JD Hip Hop Reviews. He was able to send me some stuff to review and the first of those is the recently released album Iron Curtain from Myalansky.

Myalansky named himself after gangster Mayer Lansky and rose to fame as part of the Wu-Syndicate from Virginia, which also included Joe Mafia and Napoleon. Wu-Syndicate debuted in 1998 on the compilation Wu-Tang Killa Bees: The Swarm, they followed that with their debut self-titled album Wu-Syndicate in 1999. Myalansky would release his debut album in 2008 titled Drastic Measures. He would also release two follow ups to that album with Drastic Measures 2 (2018) and Drastic Measures 3 (2021). Among a number of solo releases, including the M.E.D.U.S.A. trilogy (2023), he has also continued to work with Joe Mafia under the Wu Syndicate name.

So, with a pedigree like this, there is only one more thing to do, and that is to get straight into a deep dive into the album, which is produced by Wolf T Calzone’ and has features from Haylo Da G.O.D., Cise, Sicarii and Two Onez, alongside cuts from DJ King Prince and live instrumentation from Brian Butler. So, let’s get into it…

 

We kick things off with Manufacture Consent (Intro) which features an excerpt of an interview with Mayer Lansky over a chilled beat that features bass guitar and drums with heavy etheric vocals that give this one a laid-back air allowing you to focus on words of Lansky discussing the role of the media in making him a target of the authorities. Next up is Trick Knowledgey, the intro to which has this Baptist church vibe before the beat kicks in, bringing us a heavy sound of guitars and a pulse pounding vibe that gets your head nodding. The Baptist preaching air becomes the bridge to each verse as Myalansky drops some real knowledge, calling out the powers that be, who control the masses by seeking to trick us in a host of ways to become sheeple. There is even a lot to be said that the knowledge we are taught is a trick, as it not always the real truth, but a manipulated truth they want you to hear to point you in their direction and not to question anything. Think of the wealth of fake news and fake truths being perpetrated through the internet. There is plenty to give you pause for thought here.

Controlling Shares features Two Onez, this one has a multi-layered sound which keeps your head nodding while giving you plenty to move to as the sound keeps your mind bouncing too. The message here is all about not allowing anyone to fully control what you do. When you have spent years honing your skills and rising to the top of the game, make sure you are the one who has the controlling share of everything you have achieved. When you let others take control of what you do you are likely to become a puppet, making money for others while you will be life with nothing. The Iron Curtain Interlude brings a pulse pounding beat, strings, guitars and cuts as a short instrumental break. Casualties features, Haylo Da G.O.D. and Sicarii. It drops with a guitar heavy sound and an eerie vocal sample that seems to mess with your nerves as you listen. This on focuses on the events of 9/11 and the events surrounding what happened. This one makes you think about all the casualties there have been as a result of what happened all those years ago but, it also makes you think about current events and how we are all casualties in these politically charged events where it seems that control is the ultimate goal and we all end up being the casualties paying with our lives or financial security. Reminds us that we are all just pawns in the game of the elitists.

The Town sees Haylo Da G.O.D. and Sicarii remain alongside Myalansky. The sound here has a heavy Piano vibe that takes the forefront over the sparse beat. However, it takes nothing from the beat and keeps you moving, giving you a sound that is strangely infectious. On first listen you might think this is three emcees dropping some intricate and ferocious wordplay. However, if you are one of those who thinks a bit deeper and you read between the lines, this one speaks on how you need to be prepared on the streets anywhere in the US. Now it might not feel that way here in the UK but, it is that that way in most of the big cities, and you have to be ready for anything these days, especially after dark. Foolish King is another interlude with more about Mayer Lansky over a laid-back beat with heavy strings. Another short to make you think. Emmaculate features Cise, Haylo Da G.O.D. and Sicarii stepping up alongside Myalansky. The beat here is a classic sound and brings a smile as your head nods along with the guitar vibes in the background. This one mixes slick wordplay with more gangster references than you can shake a stick at. Giving you polished delivery with less flaws than diamond, this one is all about being perfect in all you do, because that way you are always ahead of the game.

We round off the album, well almost, with the Iron Streets (Outro) and this one gives us heavy, but laid-back way to end the album. The vocal element here is more on Mayer Lansky but, here it more in a reflective way looking back on the man and his legacy. As I said this is not the end of the album because there is more to come with Casualties (Black Tuesday) Bella Ciao Remix. This one strips back the sound of the original and gives it a whole new spin. The vocals remain the same, as does the message, but the delivery is switched up as each verse has a different beat giving each a whole new feel. This does not lessen the impact in anyway as full force of what it represents still hits hard. Making that thought of just who was responsible for what happened on 9/11, still one of the greatest unanswered questions.

Now, you might think that is it, but no, there is another remix here, which I have listed as a vinyl only track. I might need correcting here. This is TrickKnowledge, a remix of Trick Knowledgey. This one brings the beat to the forefront, backed by piano and a more operatic vocal sample. This remix gives the beat more power and thus gives the impact of the track a little more power. Not lessening the power of the original, just switching it up.

 

I think the important thing here is just to set that Wu affiliate link aside for just a second and to take this album at face value. Yes, there are little things that make you think that it has that association with it but, there is far more to this than that. This album can easily stand on its own two feet without the Wu association, and it is for that reason why you can understand that it has that association now.

The album is packed with politically charged narratives and solid wordplay that has conscious interwoven aspect that constantly asks you read between the lines. There are deeply thought-provoking aspects to this album that show a desire to bring a spotlight onto these subjects in a way that invites the listener to think far beyond the final notes of the album.

Although I remember that original Wu-Tang Killer Bees album, I cannot remember specific tracks, so this album also serves as a solid reminder of the quality and depth of what Myalansky has to offer in terms of being a Hip Hop emcee. His conscious lyricism and wordplay flows so well and he delivers every line with an internal strength that gives every line an energy that speaks to you on an unconscious level as well as that you hear. Something that gives it that, read between the line’s quality. The featured artists all do a quality job here too, bringing their own individual talents to bear on the project, and all complimenting the project perfectly.

The production is on point here too. Every sound scape does a great job of being the perfect backdrop for each individual track. You can feel that the roots of the sound all have the essence of that boom bap hip hop sound but, adding elements that work well with that gangster vibe too while not making it too over bearing as the gangster element is almost secondary here as it shows that you have to question who are the real gangsters. I also love that there are some cuts here that add that authentic feel to the whole Hip Hop vibe.

It was also good to have a couple of additional remixes here. Just highlighting exactly how you can change the impact of a track by mixing up the sound. Overall, this is a quality album that shows how the Wu-Tang name can bring a focus to a name that deserves to be heard, and in my view, this one does deserve to be heard, even without the Wu-Tang affiliation.

Iron Curtain is available now on Bella Ciao Records.

My huge appreciation to JD Hip Hop Reviews for helping me to bring this one to you.

 

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Grab a strictly limited vinyl copy here:

https://badwatch.store/iron-curtain

Myalansky on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/rapdiamondvvs/

Wolf Calzone on Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/wolf_calzone/

Bella Ciao Records:

https://www.instagram.com/bella_ciao_records/

https://badwatch.store/bella-ciao-records

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

VIDEOS

Iron Curtain Full Album