ALBUM REVIEW: Hyperdialect – Hacktivist

Despite sounding like the perfect amalgamation, grime-metal has never really taken off. Both genres, though disparate, share commonalities. A vibrant underground, devoted fan bases, and being viewed as counter-culture are just a few of them. There was a time where Milton Keynes crew HACKTIVIST looked like they may take the bull by the horns, and dictate the sub-genre’s pathway. Their debut full-length effort Outside The Box certainly showed flickers of greatness. The title track’s oozing guitar lines, and Rou Reynolds‘ guest spot on the rabid Taken gave credence to the idea that something special may be in the offing for the quintet at some point.

That moment may well still come, but Hyperdialect isn’t it. The band’s sophomore effort goes out of its way to stand tall as a visceral, direct assault on social constructs, but something gets lost in the static. As you’d expect, this isn’t a record that chases particularly complex instrumentation – that’s never been HACKTIVIST‘s credo. What that does though is heap further spotlight on the vocal/lyrical performance, which often raises eyebrows.

Both rappers JT Hurley and Jot Maxi have an impressive, frown inducing flow, however it never feels fully capitalised on. The one-two of Turning Tables and How Dare You Exist have slick vocal transitions, but there’s no climactic pay off. The duo’s lyrical attack can cause more questions than answers, too. Lifeform‘s incredibly odd rattle of “Dream of a life where I’m respected for my fashion, yeah, and not my hair/Every day I kneel down in prayer, you might get bust with a chair” almost makes you certain it’s there for satirical effect – though that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Dogs of War‘s savage beating on our obsession with conflict is much more sincere. Its strong message of peace is particularly apt for modern society, and you can’t help but wish HACKTIVIST had spent the rest of Hyperdialect running at a similar speed. Elsewhere, the record is a conveyor belt of low tuned riffs and benign choruses. Even Armoured Core‘s motivational cry of “You can disarm the alarm, or break down that wall” does little to feed the veins. Planet Zero frustrates too: its raging intensity gets squashed when the same tech riff you’ve already heard elsewhere on the album peaks its head again.

Closing track Reprogram is a fascinating end though. The alternating tempo makes it one of the few moments of Hyperdialect that you can’t predict. The record would have undeniably benefitted from the track showing up earlier; as by this point, the album’s output has become tiresome.

It’s frustrating that Hyperdialect is a ‘what could have been’ record. What it brings in youthful angst and fire, it lacks in song writing craftmanship. The record doesn’t put HACKTIVIST‘s career in much jeopardy, but it does make clear that we’re no closer to finding the modern day LIMP BIZKIT.

Rating: 5/10

Hyperdialect is set for release on June 18th via UNFD. 

Like HACKTIVIST on Facebook.