PRESS/ZACH JOHNSON
While Corey Taylor-approved rap-rocker Kid Bookie is known for unleashing chaos, trap and nu metal actually take a back seat on his latest album. With a focus on melodic crooning and acoustic self-reflection, it’s commendably vulnerable – yet you can’t help longing for his previous punch. Rather than a rapid-fire onslaught, Songs… balances grit with gentle musing. From the fuzzy, stripped-back harmonies of Self Control to the twanging sparkles of Purgatory, Bookie sheds his gnashing veneer of metallic fury. Even the glitzy, pop-punk-tinged Love Drunk is softer than his usual work. Occasional hints of riffage on Scars and Love Me When You’re Angry simply tease. Hopefully he can master a better balance in future. ■■■■■■
FOR FANS OF: Scarlxrd, Hacktivist, Kid Brunswick