Review Summary: Infectious beats mixed with dark story telling; a perfect example of the modern concept album.
Almost criminally unknown, Red Ants is the underground duo from Canada that makes some of the hardest hitting raps in the business. Their magnum opus Omega Point was released all the way back in 2008 but never did achieve the glory it should have. Cinematic in scope and dark in theme, Omega Point is the hip hop concept album we've all been dying to have.
In the near future a the world is a terrifying and dangerous place. The world is in ruins and now an evil dictatorship has taken control and the world is under control of one empire. Think Gotham or Sin City on a worldwide scale. MC Modulok narrates the trials and travels of a young man as he traverses this world and tries to create his own peace. It’s a wild ride through the darkest depths of depravity and a grim view of what the future may hold. Starting with the terrifying phone call in Amplification the album does not let up until the very last notes of the final conflict in End Game echo far in the background.
MC Modulok's rasping vocals are comparative to MC Ride's from Death Grips, but the flow is fast and enunciated like Freddie Gibbs. The doubling and harmonizing of his voice throughout the album weaves a piece of dark, omniscient power to the flow. The lyrics themselves never become corny or focus distinctly on a distinct story line, instead opting to paint a picture of their universe through harsh lyrics and a street smart word choice.
Meanwhile Vinnie P has produced a masterpiece of thick, dense, heavy material. From the opening phone call that spins into a maddening and terrifying synthesizer spin in Amplification to the final jazzy and electric beats of End Game, the resulting atmosphere is maddeningly ominous and brings to mind the classic grimdark fables and fantasies of our youth mixed with those darkest scenes of 80s and 90s animation. The beats are not unsimilar to the breakbeat style of Evil Nine or the energetic and sonic hits of Death Grips. Always original and always infectious, the production is a work of art.
Not many artists can rap a story on the same level as Nas or Zack Hemsey, nor can many create such catchy and powerful beats as J Dilla or Andy Morin, but Red Ants pull both off extremely well and with some extra eerie sensory to boot. A grim classic for the modern world.
