Birmingham's Titans of DOOM, Versus - EP review
Birmingham rap-rock-dance-metal hybrid Titans Of DOOM continue their prolific early career by releasing their third EP in as many years - Versus.
Consisting of five tracks - and four short inserts depending on your digital platform of choice - it looks at the constant battles being fought in British society currently.
"Rich vs. poor, left vs. right, Leave vs. Remain, capitalist vs. communist, Baby Boomer vs. Millennial, old vs. young, gods. vs. mortals..." their promotional material opens, and it's true.
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This writer will rant at anybody who will listen that despite being in the most uncertain times of recent decades on both sides of the Atlantic, protest music is in a quiet ebb.
So we welcome any bands whatsoever who push past the usual youngsters' songwriting paradise of unrequited love, getting paralytic with mates and quoting obscure philosophers to actually stand up and inspire society to do something about the space we inhabit.
Through big beats, scrawling guitars and abrasive but not corrosive vocals and lyrics, three-piece Titans of DOOM take aim at nobody sane's favourite national newspaper, the economic imbalance of the UK and the everlasting Brexit row.
It's thought-provoking, confident but not arrogant or self-serving. The vocals from koiZenous speak to you rather than preach at you. Guitars from Locky grab you without repelling you and Rusty Nails' skills at the decks keep the whole thing stomping along powerfully.
Kill Trade sees them all working beautifully in tandom. It's almost like a ballad at times with the music slowing down to allow koiZenous to pass over his message with breathing space. Locky chimes in with some beautifully atmospheric guitars.
Single Extra Extra feels like a Pendulum number with Rusty Nails controlling the party as the three-piece take a swipe at the editorial practices of The Sun. It's thumping and brain-consuming, a sure-fire live show romper-stomper full of venom.
Prometheus uses clever guitars to add acid to koiZenous' scratched vocals, while March Of The Ignorant mellows things right out with paranoia vibes and electronic bips.
At The Mercy sounds like peak Hacktivist aggression meeting Fatboy Slim on the battlefield with those looped, 90s dance vocals.
It's gripping and different to other bands treading this path. Take a listen to this great big hope for 2020 protest thinking, and it's peak KoRn - Follow The Leader artwork.
Rating: 7/10
The EP's five main tracks can be heard on the band's Spotify page, while the full version can be heard on Bandcamp. For more on Titans of DOOM, see their Instagram page @titansofdoom and Facebook and Twitter pages, both @TitansofDOOM
