HUMAN - Nitepunk

Raw energy. Those are the only two words that can truly describe this album.

Boldly relentless and relentlessly bold, Nitepunk's "HUMAN" LP is merciless and packed with an uncontainable, unending energy. Torrent after torrent of tidal bass waves and tsunamic breakbeats aggressively shove their way into your earholes like a drunken truck driver ramming into a brick wall. And the stupidest thing is that it's enjoyable. In fact, it's genius. The contorting synths and motoring basslines are not only straight gas, but they also are clearly well put together and thought out. That's what pushes this album above the 90/100 markcthe aptitude to create a crushingly intense impression that can hold out under forensic analysis; the ability to bundle up a piece of sound design, shake it really really hard, overload it with spice and destructive flavour, and still come out with a technically superior record. The opener "Grounded", in all its contorted glory, establishes the precedent as just that, setting up an atmosphere which allows the obnoxious and brash tracks afterwards to thrive, whether it's the roaring basslines of "Point", the abrasive "Flow", or the engine-like "Hyperdust". Obnoxious is the name of the game here, and Nitepunk does just that, employing loud vocals ("I Know That You Know" is the cookiecutter example) that get right up in your face, or basses that slap you straight across, in a very provocative and screamingly turbulent fashion. And quite frankly, I can still pick up some emotion, largely in the lyricism of those tracks that wield vocals, but more so towards the final movement of the project. Characterised by the interlude "Move Ahead", the final 4-5 tracks see the album bring in a more melodic stance, as if the character—that had just partook in whatever the hell was going on in the first 10 tracks—took a step back and considered themselves in retrospect. "Move Ahead", in particular, sees this character change for the better (in a sense), orchestrating the shift in tone for a more upbeat finale,  The beauty of this segment is that it still meshes with the grimy former part of the album quite well, both technically and tonally.

It's difficult to discredit Nitepunk's prowess here, even if you don't like the 'midnight alleyway rage' aesthetic he executes. Some of the production choices feel a little uninspired and/or repetitive, sure, and at times the mood can be a little overwhelming, but hey, overwhelming is the entire point, right? I could also understand criticism of the tonal whiplash the final movement provides—even if do think it works very well, it is a little surprising and perhaps anticlimactic.