There is often debate about who the originators of the hybrid Rap Metal genre are. While Hip Hop legends like Run-DMC intermingled Rock elements in songs like 1984’s “Rock Box” and Beastie Boys on others such as 1986’s “Fight for Your Right,” many would look at Anthrax’s colliding with Public Enemy on their June 1991 version of “Bring the Noise” as turning point.
A very big moment indeed, it is often overlooked that West Coast Rapper Ice-T had a very Heavy Metal-laden track on his May 1991 album O.G. Original Gangster called “Body Count.” A song that featured his long-time friends Ernie C on lead guitar, Beatmaster V on drums, Mooseman on bass, and D-Roc on rhythm guitar; little did anyone know at the time that a new band was taking shape. In fact, in July of 1991, Ice-T introduced that new band to the world on stage… and they were called Body Count.
Going on to strike up controversy with the original title of Cop Killer for their 1992 debut album, which was also a song to be featured a song by the same title, Body Count immediately earned a reputation for poignant lyrics that are based on a very harsh reality. With this, while the title of the album and song itself was removed from that record, Ice-T and Body County continued to pull no punches or compromise their approach to music in the decades to follow.
Moving forward to release three more records from 1992 through to 2006’s Murder 4 Hire, to the surprise of many, Body Count returned in 2014 with the album Manslaughter. A reunion some may have thought to be a one-off, Ice-T and Ernie C was determined to keep it going strong, active now for over a decade since.
A second act, which sees Ice-T and Ernie C carry the flag of Body Count without Beastmaster V (who died in 1996), D-Roc (who died in 2004), and Mooseman (who died in 2011), long-time Bassist Vincent Price solidifies them, Drummer Ill Will, Turntablist Sean E Sean, along with Guitarist Juan of the Dead and Hype Man Little Ice. Together with a lineup that pumped out four chart-topping albums through to 2020’s Carnivore (which featured the Grammy-winning song “Bum Rush”), now in 2024, they return with a vengeance on the album Merciless.
Released on November 22nd through Century Media, Merciless is the eighth overall Body Count album, and once found, the band struck a nerve. As stated, the lyrical approach to Body Count has always been one based on reality, which tackles the dangers surrounding us, the hypocrisy of world governments, and more. Some would say this is an approach others have followed through the years, like socially aware acts like Rage Against the Machine, but truthfully, there is something inherently raw about Ice-T’s approach.
Very apparent with Merciless, the album is an extremely straightforward, in-your-face listen that you immediately grasp what is trying to be said. Here, the lyrics go right for the truth and point out how powers that be are trying to tear us apart with political tribalism, endless wars, and social unrest. Laying out the diabolical plan of power-hungry government bodies, Body Count reminds you that while it is easy to take the bait and draw lines between yourself and others, it is important to recognize we are all being manipulated to do just that.
With these thoughts put into play, the songs on Merciless go from the extreme of “The Purge” (which features Cannibal Corpse’s Corspsegrinder) and “Psychopath” to the poignant statement of “Fuck What You Heard,” which justifiably labels the two biggest American political parties Democrips and Blood-Bloodpublicans.
There are also extremely energizing songs like “Live Forever” (featuring former Killswitch Engage Vocalist Howard Jones), a haunting version of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” (featuring some guitar work from David Gilmour), the Thrash attack of “Drug Lords” (featuring Soulfly’s Max Cavalera), and the must-listen “World War.”
Overall, Merciless is a modern Thrash Metal album with striking messages that will appeal to anyone who does not buy into the us versus them mentality. Dark and ominous at times, the positivity here is realizing that in order to make a better tomorrow, we need to stop endless fights… because, in spite of our differences, we are in this together. A great cathartic release in a bizarre time in history, Cryptic Rock gives Body Count’s Merciless 4.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment