Many musical artists these days shrink back from political stances, both for worry of wounding their careers or just for the truth that they see their jobs as a vital distraction from the despair and discourse that may include critical points. With 2022 bringing conflict through Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, there was an preliminary outpouring of assist 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 necessary political concern.
Eclipseye, a Russian-born rapper now primarily based within the UK, appears to be taking the other take along with his first two singles beneath this moniker, “Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” and the notably Russia-aimed “Whap Clatter.” Having begun his profession in 2016 through a poetry espresso store occasion, Eclipseye determined early on that he needed to be a champion for necessary world causes, proudly labeling himself a “woke-influencer” even amidst the latest 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 traces, 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 drag any punches in relation to 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 received 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 a whole bunch of hundreds 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” a number of 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. Informed by way 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 definitely closely implied. The truth that he’s donating 10% of the proceeds in the direction of reduction efforts in Ukraine makes it crystal clear.
Stylistically, audiences ought to go in understanding that it’s not solely his content material that makes Eclipseye distinctive. Whereas he’s tagged his type as “rap metallic,” amongst different issues, that will conjure ideas of Limp Bizkit, and that’s most definitely not what we’re speaking about right here. The underused time period “doom rap: could be a greater descriptor; there’s definitely a component of metallic in the best way Eclipseye delivers his vocals, with low growls and a timbre so deep it could possibly be known as sub bass in some locations. The music in each tracks, nevertheless, are devoid of shredding guitars and double kicks. A strong, 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 could possibly 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 might seem that Eclipseye intends to remain on this path of stark storytelling, haunting music and daring political statements. With such sturdy stylistic selections in addition to a powerful message, it appears to be like like Eclipseye will serve to entertain his audiences in addition to attaining his bigger purpose of rallying folks in the direction of motion and alter. Whether or not you favor his distinctive doom/goth/metallic/hip hop type or his political therapeutic massage, Eclipseye is one to observe as he releases extra of his purposeful work.
“Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” and “Whap Clatter” are each out now and could be streamed on Spotify. Try Eclipseye’s YouTube channel to see the video for “Hymn of Hypocrisy.”
