Comprised of theOGM and Yeti Bones, the Los Angeles-based duo have been an unpredictable force, mutating hip hop, punk, rock, and hardcore music into something explosive.
Their infamous live shows have shared stages with the likes of Slipknot, Korn, Rob Zombie, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Cypress Hill, and Denzel Curry, with their collaborations notably including acts such as Corey Taylor, The Prodigy, JPEGMAFIA, HEALTH, and Ghostemane. This portfolio alone cements their status as boundary-pushers. They’re an amazing band who’ve got some absolute bangers, and their latest LP adds several more to their discography.
The record unfolds with sonic aggression with moments of uneasy stillness. Despite being made from a mix of newly written material and reworked older demos, the album still feels cohesive. Lyrically, it wrestles with themes of identity and survival. The tracks offer a variety of sounds, from claustrophobic noise to stripped-back vulnerability. The production is precise, with collaborators such as Dave Sitek, Nova Twins, and Chelsea Wolfe adding distinct textures without diluting Ho99o9’s original raw energy. It’s an album that truly rewards listeners who stay for every jarring transition and cathartic scream. If anything, it’s a statement of Ho99o9’s endurance, showing that the duo can write deep songs without taking away their typically messy, loud sound.
Their third full-length album, ‘Tomorrow We Escape’, sees the duo at their sharpest and most personal. The record’s foundations were laid by the band refining and rebuilding older demos with new ideas.
Opener ‘I Miss Home’ (feat. MoRuf) sets the album off with a dense, industrial tone, on top of vulnerable lyricism. From there, the album balances between a pure assault to the ears and uneasy introspection. ‘Upside Down’ includes impressive production with its frenetic keys, warped guitars, and danceable basslines.
‘Incline’, produced by Dave Sitek and featuring Nova Twins, Pink Siifu, and Yung Skrrt, bursts through with chaotic energy. ‘Target Practice’, produced with Sam Matlock from Wargasm and Charl
On ‘Tapeworm’, Greg Puciato’s signature vocals lock perfectly with Ho99o9’s searing riffs, while ‘Immortal’ offers one of the album’s most surprising turns. Chelsea Wolfe’s vocal presence is instantly felt, floating over creaky guitars in what may be Ho99o9’s most emotional track yet.
The finale, ‘Godflesh’, explodes with double-bass drumming and punk-speed riffing before glitching into the defiant chant, “Born dead. God’s flesh.” It’s clearly a homage to their politically charged roots.
‘Tomorrow We Escape’ feels like the ultimate distillation of Ho99o9’s supercharged aggression, however this time, expanded with moments of self-reflection. Long-time fans will enjoy the same adrenaline rush they’ve come to expect, but with moments of vulnerability. The duo are really showing us who they are. That level of personality is what makes ‘Tomorrow We Escape’ one of Ho99o9’s most complete statements yet.
Joel Sutcliffe
@ joelsutcliffe__
Image: ‘Tomorrow We Escape’ Official Album Cover