ALBUM REVIEW: Destroy Yourself – PENGSHUi
Following on from their 2020 self titled debut, PENGSHUI return with another eclectic and hard hitting record full of their trademark mix of metal, punk, hip hop, grime, dubstep and other electronic elements. This time they have raised the energy levels even higher, and the results are electric.
From the get go, it is extremely evident that with Destroy Yourself, PENGSHUI have made an album that lives up to their formidable live show and matches its power when it comes to high energy levels emitting from the speakers.
Furious opening number Break The Law sets the tone right from the beginning and this righteous blend of cathartic anger continues all the way until the last notes of closing track Nothing Ever Changes ring out. That opener features grime star P MONEY, who acts as a perfect counterpart to PENGSHUI‘s Illaman as they blast their way through a law baiting anthem for the downtrodden. This venomous start typifies the frustration of the past couple of years and it only continues as the album powers on. Energetic bangers like IDKWYBT, Little Brother, Move The World, Eat The Rich Shellers and the title track are PENGSHUI at their finest and all are ready made for the live arena, where you can just imagine the audience going off whenever these songs are dropped.
It’s not all rage all the way through though as the nostalgic and almost playful This Is My Youth namechecks everything from drum & bass royalty ANDY C and RANDALL, aliens and Avirex leather jackets, to scampi and lemon nik naks, Thundercats and Air Max 95s, to mentions of classic UK hip-hop albums by TASK FORCE and FOREIGN BEGGARS – all in a feelgood fashion with upbeat vibes throughout that will put a smile on your face. Elsewhere, the punked up and anthemic Move The World sounds like an almighty collision between punk heroes THE RUTS and THE PRODIGY. All these different vibes collide and what you are left with is a collection of songs that combines the eclectic nature of British underground music from the past 30 years with a sound that could only come from now.
With the razor sharp rhymes and vocals of Illaman riding perfectly with the groove of drummer Prav and bass man Fatty, Destroy Yourself sees PENGSHUI sound even more confident on this album, and considering they sounded pretty damn self assured on their debut, that is really saying something.
This album really sees PENGSHUI raising their game – and bringing their A-game at that. Not only does Destroy Yourself sound like the perfect antidote for the crazy times that we find ourselves living in, but it’s a soundtrack of defiance and not giving in, and a rousing call to arms on top of that.
Rating: 8/10
Destroy Yourself is set for release on January 28th via MVKA.
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