MCD is an independent recording artist we at Divide & Conquer reviewed a couple years ago when he released CoronaVIOLENCE. The artist is back with a new release called The Upside Down: Chapter One and mentions “I’ve wanted to make an album like this for ten years now and finally built up the courage to do it. It has a heavily influenced 80s/retro vibe with a lot of synth work and big hooks but also leans into my darker, more ‘metal’ sound on some tracks. I love everything from the ‘80s, from the sounds to the movies and the hit series Stranger Things was also a huge influence.”
“They Steal The Light” is an interesting one that combines cosmic sounding synth elements with an industrial sounding kit. There are some vocals built on this song which reminded me of Rage Against the Machine. The main hook however is when he repeats the phrase “They steal the light.” “Take Me Home feat. Jaykub” is more downtempo but still very atmospheric. There are a lot of misty pads and crystalized synths which create a lush and exciting soundscape. The rapping from the artist and guest melded perfectly with the music. Solid song. “Dark & Light: Darkest Night feat. Self Savior” is totally immersed in an ’80s aesthetic including an 808 type kit. The music actually reminded me of Beach House. I thought the hook was really strong with this song. In fact I would say this was one of the highlights. “Love is a Battlefield feat. Dabble'' picks up some energy with a strong sample. This song in particular reminded me of Eminem. Another highlight was “Love is a Battlefield feat. Dabble.” I loved the hook on this song and the flavor of this song is sort of playful and loose which combines well with the music. There are some very impressive vocal performances. “Separate Ways” has this cinematic rock opera type of vibe while I think he utilizes a sample from the band Journey. “Paradise feat. Cody Nash” is a much more pensive and thought- provoking song. The fast rapping with the slower beat worked wonderfully. As the album progresses I thought there were a number of highlights. “Don't Worry feat. Charlotte Pike” has some of the most infectious melodies, “Monster feat. Loose Logic” is a banger ready for the club as well as some of the best flows with a killer hook. The closer “It's a Sin” is very cinematic and has familiar melodies I couldn’t quite pinpoint. This is a vast album with a lot of attention to detail. In my opinion this is the most realized album yet by the artist. Take a listen.
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