Many musical artists these days shrink back from political stances, both for worry of injuring their careers or just for the truth that they see their jobs as a mandatory distraction from the despair and discourse that may include critical points. With 2022 bringing conflict by way of Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, there was an preliminary outpouring of help for Ukraine with artist contributing to a great deal of charity albums and reveals, because the conflict has rolled on and the repercussions of talking out have made themselves clear (particularly for Russian artists), as soon as once more, the music neighborhood goes a bit quiet on this vital political situation.
Eclipseye, a Russian-born rapper now based mostly within the UK, appears to be taking the alternative take together with his first two singles below this moniker, “Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” and the significantly Russia-aimed “Whap Clatter.” Having begun his profession in 2016 by way of a poetry espresso store occasion, Eclipseye determined early on that he wished to be a champion for vital world causes, proudly labeling himself a “woke-influencer” even amidst the current derisive sentiments towards the time period “woke.” The place different artists shrink back from making political statements, Eclipseye is all about talking up, even when folks don’t prefer it.
With its very first strains, Eclipseye’s first observe “Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” concerning the pratfalls of Brexit and the UK authorities’s mishandling (in his opinion) of COVID, reveals that he doesn’t plan to tug any punches in terms of talking his thoughts. After a information pattern concerning the polarizing nature of the UK’s plan to depart the EU, Eclipseye’s first phrases are “Brexit, Brexit – eurikas textual content it’ you want grass I’ll eat your Brexit for breakfast; Trigger Tesco’s bought nothing on the cabinets for us.” It solely will get extra stark from there, and “Hymn” has now change into one thing of an anthem for anti-Brexit sentiment, garnering Eclipseye practically 100 thousand streams on Spotify and lots of of 1000’s over all of the platforms on which it’s listed, all for the reason that finish of August. Maybe it isn’t so dangerous career-wise to place one’s opinion on the market.
In an eerie little bit of fortune-telling that artists appear to have a knack for, Eclipseye wrote his sophomore single “Whap Clatter” just a few months earlier than Putin’s Russian forces invaded the borders of Ukraine. Launched only recently on October 31 with its corresponding Ukrainian-directed and equally heavy-handed video, “Whap Clatter” Stuffed with visceral photographs of the horrors of conflict. Advised by means of each metaphorical and typically graphic literal imagery and spit in each English and Russian, whereas Eclipseye by no means mentions that the observe is directed at Russia, it’s actually closely implied. The truth that he’s donating 10% of the proceeds in direction of reduction efforts in Ukraine makes it crystal clear.
Stylistically, audiences ought to go in realizing that it’s not solely his content material that makes Eclipseye distinctive. Whereas he’s tagged his type as “rap metallic,” amongst different issues, which will conjure ideas of Limp Bizkit, and that’s most actually not what we’re speaking about right here. The underused time period “doom rap: is likely to be a greater descriptor; there’s actually a component of metallic in the best way Eclipseye delivers his vocals, with low growls and a timbre so deep it may very well be known as sub bass in some locations. The music in each tracks, nevertheless, are devoid of shredding guitars and double kicks. A stable, minimal beat carries every observe, with “Hymn” having a extra conventional hip hop vibe backed by eerie ambient sound design. “Whap Clatter,” within the meantime, sounds extra tribal and has a ravey construction in its intro and breaks, with massive gaps within the beat to showcase the gothic-style vocal samples. Steel-tinged doom rap? A bit wordy, however this may very well be an inexpensive abstract for Eclipseye’s type.
With the video for “Whap Clatter” being simply as intense because the observe that impressed it, it could seem that Eclipseye intends to remain on this path of stark storytelling, haunting music and daring political statements. With such robust stylistic selections in addition to a powerful message, it seems to be like Eclipseye will serve to entertain his audiences in addition to attaining his bigger aim of rallying folks in direction of motion and alter. Whether or not you like his distinctive doom/goth/metallic/hip hop type or his political therapeutic massage, Eclipseye is one to look at as he releases extra of his purposeful work.
“Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” and “Whap Clatter” are each out now and may be streamed on Spotify. Try Eclipseye’s YouTube channel to see the video for “Hymn of Hypocrisy.”
