Death Grips are an enigma. Since the release of their first EP (self-titled), back in 2011, they have been shaking up the underground with experimental, noisy, and industrial hip-hop, known most notoriously for lead vocalist, MC Ride’s cryptic and poetic lyrics as well as his original ’shouting’ style. Despite their underground fame, the band as characters have remained near-anonymous and illusive throughout the five years they have been working together – famous for sending fans on treasure hunts around the internet and creating buzz for new releases before they are dropped on random dates.

‘Hot Head’, Death Grips first (and likely only) single from their up and coming LP Bottomless Pit, does not disappoint. In fact, it could possibly be the most intense I have ever heard the band on a recorded track. It also picks straight back up from the last track of their most recent full length release, Jenny Death – ‘Death Grips 2.0’ – a three minute long harsh noise piece. It starts straight away with the introduction of a grinding synth, that doesn’t sound too similar to the revving of an engine – we are once again being taken on a ride through the sonic soundscape and mind of MC Ride and co. Suddenly Zach Hill kicks in and we are plunged straight back into the insanity of Death Grips. Over the top of this mass of thick, visceral noise, Ride greets us once again with an onomatopoeic delivery on vocals. He takes a breath in a short pause until once again we are pulled back into another harsh and fast paced wall of sound. Whilst Flatlander works the grinding engine synth, Zach Hill returns on a live kit with some really crazy fills.The track begins to lay off slightly in yet another new section – a darting synth arpeggio over some heavy double time drumming.

Ride roars: ‘Raw no fuckin’ filter, crooked needle, hot head’ – he is back, and more angry and intense than ever; once again completely raw, unhinged, and unstable. ‘Crooked needle’ paints a grotesque picture of hard drug use (a recurring theme in the bands work), but also illustrates that Death Grips go so hard that they will quite literally break the needle of your turntable. Ride’s lyrics on this song re-enforce the fact that his writing has so much depth, and should be taken totally seriously when listening to any of his work.

All of these sections alternate throughout this track, rushing us through the organised chaos that runs through the core of Death Grips. You will be left cut up and bruised after being thrown through the wall of sound that Hot Head presents – but also with a lust for wanting to do it all over again.

In my years, I have come to understand that there are few things that separate us from the animal kingdom, such as shoes, wine, and the ability to speak and write down language. Appreciating the music of Death Grips is one of these things; therefore if you refuse to do so you are no more than a savage.