On the fringe of the mainstream, Twiztid has been one of the most prolific duos in Hip Hop over the last three decades. The unity of Michigan Rappers Jamie “Madrox” Spaniolo and Paul “Monoxide” Methric, many recall Madrox and Monoxide as a part of House of Krazees prior to forming Twiztid, but also an association with Insane Clown Posse, who signed them up to Psychopathic Records. This partnership helped both the ICP and Twiztid brands grow, and since the debut album Mostasteless in 1998, much has transpired.
To start with, Twiztid, while often being labeled a Horrorcore or Rapcore act, has never been married to one style. In truth, Twiztid has been an ever-evolving entity over the course of their massive seventeen studio full-length releases, and now they are looking to turn even more heads with album number eighteen, entitled Welcome to Your Funeral.
Released on Valentine’s Day 2025, Friday, February 14th, through Majik Ninja Entertainment, Madrox and Monoxide boldly step directly into a more straight-up Nu Metal sound where the live instruments dominate every aspect of the recordings. It should not be a complete surprise or a far reach since they have dabbled with Rock and Metal in the past. Also, they appreciate and genuinely love the genres, but some might wonder if their further exploration is a failure or something of interest. Simply put, it is anything but a failure because it seems like the duo has honed in on a sound with Welcome to Your Funeral and sharpened their songwriting skills.
Consisting of ten tracks, it is always bold when an act known for one style tries to blaze a trail in another, but fortunately for Twiztid the time was now to make this plunge. Sparing no effort, they dialed in on a thick Alternative Metal sound where they called on Chris “Zeuss” Harris (known for his work with everyone from Rob Zombie to Queensrÿche) and Fritz “The Cat” Von Kosky (a long-time producer of Twiztid) to round out the vibe they were going for. Not unfamiliar with the famed Metal producer, Zeuss had mastered the 2021 Twiztid album Unlikely Prescription, so it seemed to be the right fit.
With that in mind, Madrox, Monoxide, and Zeuss joined forces to write and produce all the songs for Welcome to Your Funeral with some cool other guests… like Queensrÿche’s Todd La Torre, putting down the live drums for the album! Created with heart and soul, the tracks that make up Welcome to Your Funeral sound uncontrived and hit with a good deal of punch.
To start with, Hard Rock/Modern Metal SiriusXM channel Octane has even gotten on board, spinning the single “dance on my grave” leading up to the album release. A factor that could prove to be a big boost for Twiztid, who honestly may not be as widely accepted by all Metal lovers as they should be, hopefully, this sample, along with other pre-release bangers from the 2024 EP Inside Out, such as “fed up” and “like we’re gunna die,” will entice them enough to check out the rest of Welcome To Your Funeral.
With these few tracks mentioned, you also have the thick bass and crunchy guitars on “i don’t need this” hook you, while the more down-tempo “the wake ” and the almost Grunge vibe of “light the way” keep you engaged. Beyond this, the overall live feel of the record is what is most exciting, and it must be said that Madrox and Monoxide’s rapping and singing skills have continued to expand on this effort.
Overall, Welcome to Your Funeral feels like Twiztid’s next natural, big step forward. It is real, chock-full of sincere emotion, and should be taken very seriously. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the new album 4 out of 5 stars.
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