I was a big fan of their last album, "New World Depression." This one starts off by getting more aggressive than depressive with some ghetto tinged shit talking. It works for this song, but I want more of the darker atmosphere that colored the last album, which helped set them apart. "Napoleon" has a more of a dirty South feel that owes more to Three 6 Mafia than Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. I know where their roots come from, which is a darker sound, so perhaps they are trying to make a step in a more mainstream direction here.
"Oh, What a Wretched Man I Am" switches things back in the direction closer to what I want from them. "Full of Grace" strikes a balance between the two moods presented so far and proves effective. This bleeds over into "Chain Breaker". "Now At the Hour of Our Death" finds a better balance, and things get darker as they ponder mental health. "Grey, Grey Grey" finds them getting back to their darker sweet spot. A great deal lies on the creepier backing track. The vocal approach is also more frantic, adding to this mood.
"Carried Away" benefits from a cool beat that adds to the more ominous mood. With lyrics like " there was drama in the titty milk/ and you wonder why I'm crazy" might be the line that best describes the mood of this entire album. If they were going to release a single with mainstream aspirations, "Monochromatic' would be the one with a more sung hook. It crosses over into the more R&B-infused brand of pop. I will round this album up to a 10 it might take a few more listens to grow on me, as it's not as dark or urgent as the previous one, but it is more polished.
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