MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 2/16/22
Review by: Jonathan Fuller, Writer @JonnyDarko3
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
Top songs on the Minnesota Sound playlist.
Tuvok the Word, Mpls Drew, DJ Hayes "Smurfs”
An eerie, dusty sample opens the track “Smurfs.” A slow, heavy hip hop beat breaks through, packing a serious punch. The beat’s dark and ominous aesthetic perfectly underpins the heavy, politically charged lyrical content. This track is packed with quality bars and conviction. The song comes from Tuvok the Word’s latest EP “Turvok the Third.”
Mea Burrow "Fool's Spring"
Mea Burrow brings an incredibly unique energy to the track “Fool’s Spring.” Static-filled guitar riffs rip through the instrumental, swallowing the mix in their fuzzy embrace. The vocals are intriguingly soft for this style of instrumental, providing an intriguing contrast. The song feels like barely controlled chaos, a distinctly dark and fascinating effort by Mea Burrow. To hear more from the band listen to their EP “Rabbit Hole.”
Lieutenant Sunnie "Forward March"
“Forward March” prominently features dusty, soul-filled samples, hard hitting trap drums and a catchy hook. The lyricism sports a confident and witty aesthetic, voicing black pride and strength in the face of adversity. Sunnie delivers a driven, spirit filled performance tackling systemic issues while maintaining a fun and energetic aesthetic. “Forward March” comes from Lieutenant Sunnie’s 2021 EP “Stages Of Grief.”
Inflict "I'm Never Coming Home"
"I'm Never Coming Home" has an epic tone. The intro feels like something you would hear before a big fight in a superhero movie or something equally as epic. The main body of the track is a heart wrenching dissent into metal bliss. The tortured screams combine perfectly with an absolute onslaught of guitar, drums and bass. Clocking in at over seven minutes in length, the song feels cinematic and takes its time to build and keeps on delivering. Through the chaos Inflict retains an impressive amount of melodic sensibility resulting in an emotionally driven, heavy metal epic.
Twin Tombs "The Law"
“The Law” is a 35 second, eardrum-shattering display of power from the band Twin Tombs. Do not play this track for your grandma. Even I found my sensibilities offended… but in a good way. This track feels like a combo of black metal, death metal, and thrash metal? I don’t even know anymore. If you like heavy music, you have to hear this beast, because I’ve listened to it about ten times now and it’s not getting old.
FPA "Last to Bloom"
“Last to Bloom” is a stunning track with a keen ear for the modern listener and deep roots in storytelling. FPA has subtlety on their side, displaying a captivating control of sonic balance. Reminiscent of artists like Frank Ocean and SZA, this song feels alive, breathing almost. The track is absolutely gorgeous with a re-listenability factor of 1,000%. To hear more from FPA I highly recommend you check out the new album “Princess Wiko.”
