New Jersey noise rap pioneers resurfaced in 2016 after a period of inactivity, with MC ( ) accompanied by previous collaborators and rather than the group's longtime producer , who left in 2010. Following the revamped lineup's initial foray, , released by Canadian metal label , returned to 's label (home to the majority of the group's discography) with the follow-up, . Almost immediately, it becomes apparent that the slightly underwhelming was just a warm-up, and that this is the group's true comeback. The guitars are sludgier, the drums are harder and crunchier, and the production is denser and busier. In addition to all of this, 's lyrics are more direct and urgent than ever, referencing cases of police brutality against African-Americans and calling for resistance and change. At times the swirling, swarming noise comes close to drowning out the vocals, but prevails, and the production dramatically underscores his messages. As with the group's previous album, the subject matter is bleak and admits he doesn't always have solutions or answers to everything, but he doesn't stop encouraging people to rise up, protest, and fight. On songs like "Beyond the Madness," the message is that we are all human, oppression is real, humanity is in peril, but we have to maintain hope and work for a better future. The group's shoegaze-influenced washes of guitar noise and midtempo breakbeats couldn't be a better backdrop for such intense lyrical content -- equally abrasive and hypnotic, it sounds bracing yet beautiful, and holds the listener's attention. is another triumphant, socially relevant album from the masters of industrial shoegaze hip-hop. ~ Paul Simpson