Rating: 6 / Format: CD / Label: Cold Blooded
Genealogy affirmed, and making Kano’s residence at 140 Grime Street seem even more forced in the process, North London’s Revolver staunchly stands up to the title of his debut mixtape – and it’s especially welcome in this current climate of ‘Chip Diddy Chip’ style crossover attempts.
Grime’s Son is straight gutter. I readily confess to revelling in unmitigated greaze within the safe confines of my room, but here Revolver is relentless and, as a result, the CD does stray into bogs of heavy listening. ‘Respirator’ epitomises the mood, with a blunt hook that slaps you out of your seat and ringing, claustrophobic production. ‘Crews Firing’ follows suit – the lyrics and production paired perfectly in a macabre union, resulting in a ruthless and chilling atmosphere.
‘Battle Scarz’ is a welcome sore thumb, a genuinely emotional study of loss over Skeamz’s mournful strings. It’s brilliant; and would happily stroll onto any recent grime mixtape. ‘Controlling the War’ on the other hand is a bit more comic, with its pot-shots at the near-forgotten Cookie and his ‘Sainsbury’s pay-checks’, and scene godfather Wiley also in the firing line. However, normality is soon restored and the anarchic ‘Generals Conquest’ Remix is a fitting end to an unapologetic grime release which deserves praise, despite being hard to listen to.
Tom Thurgood