MOИK – DETH

MOИK – DETH – EP Review

Grief is an intense thing to go through.  Our man MOИK has been battling it for some time already, as you would have read about in past reviews I’ve written on his music.  They say there is what…five stages of it, right?  Fitting that this would be MOИK’s fifth record too, ain’t it?  I’m sure it’s by no means any kind of coincidence…this dude puts a ton of thought into what he creates, and the reasons WHY he creates at all.  While there’s no doubt that a lot of what you’ll hear on this record deals directly with the concepts of DETH and how that has impacted MOИK’s own life outside of the music – you’ll soon come to realize that this album is much more about that fifth stage than anything else – acceptance.  It’s the toughest one of the five to achieve in my opinion, but once you reach the acceptance point, you’ll find you have the kind of perspective and unbreakable bond with life that is built to withstand anything.

Starting out with “5KULLS,” which is a solidly reimagined version of the Misfits original, MOИK has put together a real ear-catching beginning with this cover.  It’s as haunting as you’d hope it would be, yet it’s not all doom and gloom either…it’s got this ethereal beauty to it that is highly effective in delivering just as many chills as it will stop you to really listen and admire its fascinating sound.  I love moments like these, where you’d look at MOИK’s choice of “Skulls” by the Misfits on paper and have to wonder how the heck he’d go about pulling that off successfully as a cover…and then you hear it, and you’re like, yep, that works, instantly.  He’s gone with female vocals to represent him in the music…could be AI, might not be…honestly, I’m not sure, but MOИK is no stranger to technology…I’m not seeing any additional credits…and it seems like something he’d do.  In any event, I suppose when you get to a point where the lines have blurred so much and you have to wonder because the quality is there…no real use in complaining, right?  I dig what I hear on “5KULLS” with the exception of the part where the music gets overcooked on purpose…I’ve shared my thoughts with MOИK on that in past reviews I’ve written so I’m not gonna spend a whole lotta time on it here…it’s a stylistic thing, and clearly he digs it…no judgment here.  All-in-all though, it’s a strong cover, and I’m more than willing to bet it’ll surprise anyone that is familiar with the original.  Ambitious stuff to start out DETH with, but I’m here for it…this has real depth.

As we shift into his own material, all I can say is that I truly hope you’re all out there checking this album out through its YouTube version, because the series of videos this dude has put together to support DETH is a genuine masterstroke.  Something like “REAPER5” takes the man at least a couple steps closer to something you’d find in the Gorillaz-verse with an anime twist to it…you’re gonna LOVE this if you haven’t seen it yet.  I’m not that dude to be all about branding & shit, but I understand the importance and appeal…when you’re REALLY building something, you put everything you’ve got into ALL aspects of it…this whole record’s worth of visual entertainment speaks volumes on behalf of MOИK’s commitment to his music, and his commitment to YOU.  Plus, c’mon y’all…the hook in “REAPER5” is as good as it gets too…from sight to sound, there’s nothing I’d dare to complain about when it comes to this track.  Lyrically, this is one of my favorite cuts I’ve heard in MOИK’s catalog…but really, when it comes right down to it, I’m sure that I’d probably have “REAPER5” up towards the top of any list I made for as many reasons as you can think of – this is just a completely stellar tune.  MOИK has had a BUSY year, and it has been filled with a ton of solid music…so really, to think that the well hasn’t shown any signs of running dry and that the man is still on his way up is a genuinely promising sign.  “REAPER5” is straight dope, full stop – it’s armed with one of the strongest hooks on the record, if not THE strongest hook.  Flexing dual personalities with hard bars forming the verses and a chorus you can sing along with, with lengthy spots to highlight the MOИK’s instrumental capabilities/talent as a producer…this is excellent stuff all-around.

“LU5T” is a really interesting and engaging tune that is built entirely of hybrid vibes.  You’ve got the obvious digitalized aspect – it’s MOИK, and he’s an electro wizard – but then you’ve also got a distinct combination of Hip Hop, Reggae, Pop, and even a hint of Metal to follow, creating a multi-dimensional experience in sound that is bound to give everyone a little something special they’d love to hear.  It’s one of those tracks that does so much within a short timeframe that you can’t help but be impressed by the compositional aspect and performance combined when it comes out with this much fluidity.  As far as its advantages and disadvantages go, they’re all relative to that…for those that like to hear a whole lot goin’ on in the music they listen to, different styles in the same song & shit…obviously you’re going to be in-store for something you’ll really dig with the sonic diversity of a track like this.  For those of you that are geared more towards one sound or style at a time in what you listen to, then you might find yourself tempted to take a track like “LU5T” in an a la carte type of way where you’ll discover pieces that you love more than others.  I think this is the only track where he uses male vocals, isn’t it?  I reserve the right to come back and delete that comment before you read it if I’m wrong.  I should have done that – because I WAS wrong…and now it just looks like I’m sitting here talking/typing to myself.  Dammit.  Anyhow…there IS female vocals on this song as well, and personally, I’m thankful for’em – up until the point they show up, I was a little on the fence about “LU5T” & whether or not there was enough for me at the start of this cut.  He’s workin’ with a few ideas at the core of this track, and while I might be unconvinced they all go together on a stylistic level, credit where credit is due, MOИK’s technique at least makes it seem seamless.  I think I’m gonna be just like most folks when it comes to “LU5T” in that I’ve definitely got parts I like more than others in this particular song, but what’s strong is really strong, and it’s enough to carry the whole thing.

What’s this?  “HALO?”  There’s no 5 in that.  Alright…I suppose no one said that just because this is MOИK’s 5^th album that EVERY song had to have a 5 in its title.  The question is…did the absence of a 5 affect the quality somehow?  On the surface, objectively, that’s an easy answer to provide – no, of course not…it’s MOИK y’all…this dude knows what he’s doing and no matter which style he decides to shift into next, the quality of his production and the seamlessness of his style is always professional.  Now, if you’re asking me if this harder turn towards traditional raver-style EDM is for me on a personal level, I mean, I’d probably tell ya no…but that’s just an opinion.  The song itself is still good and the quality is still present and accounted for; that’s all you can ever ask for.  Everything else is just a matter of personal taste.  I still like what I hear in “HALO” more or less…it’s really only by comparison to the rest of the set that I can hear how this particular cut bends in a different direction that doesn’t interest me as much is all.  I dunno…I guess I felt like “HALO” ended up being inventive enough, even if it’s built to lean more heavily into its repetition than other stuff MOИK does.  I think what people will respond to is the cinematic sound within this song, because that’s kind of proven to be a thing that listeners universally respond to – they like BIG moments and vividly colorful sound combined, and “HALO” has no qualms about doling a metric ton of both in the pursuit of keeping you entertained.  I’ll put it to you this way…being born in 80s and raised in the Grunge era and all like I have been, songs like “HALO” embrace technology and songwriting in a much less organic way than I’m personally comfortable with advocating for, but if you were to tell me this was your favorite track on the EP, I’d still readily give you a high five.  Ha!  Would you look at that?  Maybe that’s where the five in “HALO” has been all along…it’s like…you know…metaphorical…musically symbolic, or implied…the 5 in “HALO” is the one WE give it, in approval.

“5HADOWS” is…not the kind of song that I’ll need to sell you on.  Of all the tracks on this record, this is probably going to be the strongest candidate to speak on its own behalf.  “REAPER5” has an undeniable highlight hook in it…and…I’d say I probably still prefer that track for my own personal taste…but if we’re talkin’ about single-worthy potential, I’d likely tell ya that “5HADOWS” is fully loaded with it from start to finish and possesses more of that magical stuff than any other cut on the record.  For real, on that first spin I took through DETH, I got to “5HADOWS” and had one of those moments where I had to shake my head a little and realize that MOИK is still fighting to get his music known on a global scale, yet he’s got cuts like this that would be an instant chart-topper if the damn industry would pay attention.  So that’s where you come in y’all…if you really want great music like what MOИK makes to continue, you gotta do your part to help support it and carry on.  Take out ya goddamn boombox, put some MOИK in it, and raise it up high above your head like you’re John Cusack professing your love to the world!  Or at least, tell someone you know about MOИK and keep spreading the word…dude deserves to be heard on a worldwide scale, and tracks like “5HADOWS” are really all the proof you need to know he could level-up at any time.  The mainstream could snatch this dude right from the underground independent scene at any moment…so turn him up, and be thankful we’ve got MOИK in the trenches with us…for now.  Do I think this takes the number one spot in my favorites from DETH?  It’s really damn close y’all.  I don’t think I’m quite willing to go there – “REAPER5” has a hook that is literally amazing…but I could listen to an argument that says “5HADOWS” might be more consistently even across the board in its strengths.

If you’re gonna force me to pick a video from this record that is the best of the bunch, then I’m absolutely going with the album’s title track – “DETH” is insanely cool.  While I’m sure it’s all made with AI, it’s all got that Claymation look to it, and that’s completely my jam.  I’m goin’ with AI, because the other option is that you spend about five years making a video like this…and considering how much else that he’s accomplished during that time, I can’t imagine he’d have all the time to move a bunch of playdoh back & forth by a millimeter at a time.  Of all the tracks you’ll hear on this EP, “DETH” has to be the most confessional by a country mile…it’s shocking really.  It’s no secret to me that MOИK has faced his struggles in life and had to go through some obstacles early on that would have most people cashing in their chips before they even started to play the game of life…but yeah…it’s still another thing to go about putting it all out there in the wide open for everyone to hear.  It’s brave for certain, but there’s so much freedom to be found when you realize that the only way out, is through, as the old saying goes.  By dealing with his pain out in the open, he’s hitting the darkness with the disinfectant of sunshine, and even if he’s drenched in malaise like he is on “DETH,” it’s still another crucial step forward in his healing process.  You’ll get some real insight into what he’s been through and what the experience of loss lead MOИK into throughout this track and its video…you might notice the Claymation figure of the main man in question has a penchant for dining on the Walter White special in the video…and you might hear a reference to a “meth grin” – MOИK’s basically been riding with the reaper and gotten himself way too close to the end.  As I’ve pointed out several times throughout reviews I’ve written on his records, it’s largely been the music that has saved him, straightened out his perspective, helped him focus, and find that next step forward.  No one expects this dude to make giant leaps right now…no…right now, it’s still about minor movements…the will to continue, and the desire to see what comes next.  You get those things back under your belt with a little pinch of confidence restored, and MOИK will be on his way back to being as close to full strength as he can possibly be.  In the meantime, as he searches for the healing and catharsis he needs, we all benefit as listeners because the dude is continually making music as part of the process.  So like…don’t get me wrong…I wish him well, but like…a slower recovery is cool too sir!

Finding his chi, “MEDITATE” brings about the acceptance he’s been searching for throughout the course of this record’s theme.  With his cartoon eyes closed, and the reaper ready to take him for the long ride at any moment, MOИK continues his battle to reconfigure his life in a way that he can continue forward.  Unafraid to confront the brutal experiences he’s faced in the past through the music he makes, each song MOИK makes plays a significant role in his healing process.  “MEDITATE” is cool with me – you can cite things like…say…someone like Ellie Goulding…it’s along those lines to a degree when it comes to the sound of the song, but conceptually, that’s where MOИK tends to set himself apart with how much he considers in his attention to detail/the direction of his material.  The main climax of “MEDITATE” is something to freakin’ BEHOLD though y’all…believe me when I tell ya, y’ain’t ready for it.  The way he’s got this designed to build up so perfectly, “MEDITATE” goes on to drop the MOAB on ya (look it up kids!) and might very well reveal the record’s biggest singular moment, right in this final song snugly where you’d wanna find it.  Another highlight example of one of the most complete cuts you’ll hear in any corner of MOИK’s catalog, he’s got hooks and energy in abundance, with lyrics and visuals that reflect on philosophy and existentialism & such…lots of great stuff to be found in this tune as well.  It’s also got more of a noticeable EDM sound at the core of its vibe, but it feels a bit tighter and stronger than what we got earlier on with “HALO” overall.  No substantial complaints from me here – MOИK is continuing on the hot streak he’s been on this year with another extremely solid record from start to finish.

Find out more about the music of MOИK at this multi-link here:  https://linktr.ee/soulrebelmonk

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