“Monkey see, monkey do – so who the fuck made you?“
In the year of our lord 2024, masters of the open-note Kublai Khan TX need no introduction: their meteoric rise to fame quite frankly needs to be studied as it seems they became the face of hardcore-adjacent metalcore overnight and it’s not hard to understand why. Willingly or otherwise you’ve no doubt had the above primate-centric lyric from their breakout song “Theory Of Mind” drilled into your head to the point that the words no longer have meaning, or perhaps the piercing pinches of “Antpile” have burrowed their way into your brain through sheer exposure alone. Given their new found audience and the added pressure of expectation that comes with such acclaim, the question is whether Honeycutt & Co. will buckle under the constraint or if they will confidently deliver a true Exhibition Of Prowess with as much swagger as ever.
If the album runtime of 24 minutes doesn’t immediately demonstrate the no-nonsense nature of the Khan, then “Supreme Ruler” certainly will – introducing the album by touching upon the delicate topic of death and legacy with a very brief spoken word that will serve as the only moment of respite the album will present you in its entirety, before metalcore’s Macho Man Matt Honeycutt snatches the spotlight to inform the listener of the english translation of the bands namesake. Wherever Matt goes however, riffs are sure to follow. He is aided by just about as unforgiving of an intro as you can get, giving out a flurry of chugs like they’re candy. Upon hearing this song for the first time after its single release I jokingly dubbed it “Antpile 2”- only to gaze at the upcoming tracklist and realize that I apparently possessed the gift of prophecy. “Darwinism” boldly proclaims itself a headbanger right from the get-go, a testament to Kublai’s well oiled beatdown machine consistently proving that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Barely three minutes into the album and you can already taste the bodily harm that this new material is going to cause in a live setting, especially in the case of the slurry of brand new breakdown callouts Matthew has been cooking up including but not limited to “Motherfucker, bang your fucking head”, “So just bang your fucking head, god damn it”, and of course, Grandma’s favourite: “Die and get the fuck out of my face”.
Something that is somewhat new for the band is the inclusion of featured artists and guest vocals – you may recall that the band dipped their toes into the idea through the Lowest Form Of Animal EP’s “Swan Song” which notably featured Terror’s Scott Vogel – this time around KKTX fully commit to the bit, with Dave Peters of Throwdown and Eighteen Visions fame joining the Texas Troupe for a guest vocal spot on “Cannibal”. His verse puts fourth gravelly groans which are right at home amongst the musical embodiment of Whey Protein Isolate and deliciously compliment Honeycutt’s trademark rasp. “X”, meanwhile finds itself amongst the ever-growing ranks of the “under one minute” club, just caught short (or rather long) by “Eyes Up” from the band’s second full length Balancing Survival & Happiness which clocks in a whole four seconds briefer. Longevity as always isn’t an issue for Kublai Khan TX however, with the phrase “here for a good time, not a long time” ringing true even in the face of the song’s glaringly straight edge subject matter, going as far as name-dropping the movement just in case the title and lyricism weren’t enough to convince you that metallic hardcore’s hottest and biggest band right now doesn’t want anything to do with your vices (see also: “Still Here” from “New Strength”).
As hinted at in the opening paragraph – there are two types of people in this world: those that have heard “Theory Of Mind” by Kublai Khan TX and those that are lying. Those honest few of you with keen ears may notice that Exhibition Of Prowess’ version of the smash hit slightly differs from the 2023 single version in a few key ways – most of which pertaining to the new mixing and mastering job as to fit in with the rest of the album. The guitar tone is slightly crunchier which aids in emphasizing some of the more sparse chugs later into the songs various breakdowns, and backing vocals are quieter, with most of the vocals being re-recorded and some of the lines’ phrasing being altered slightly or disappearing altogether. Whilst ultimately inconsequential I would expect most to consider the original single version the definitive one despite the track now belonging to a larger body of work, although this is mostly the fault of the standalone release being available for so long rather than the overall quality of the album’s take (however I’m sure fans will find a way to make this a divisive debate). Nitpicking aside, this absolute anthem remains the best at what it does – and what it does consists of reverting its audience to their purest, most primal instincts.
“Mud” begins face-down in the dirt, living up to its namesake through the droning notes of the aforementioned guitar tone, gruff and husky as ever – ripe for the application of some vocal slam poetry and cymbal mutes to fully launch us into the warzone. Lyrically this song appears to be partially inspired by the horrors of war, more specifically the Vietnam conflict, making various references to guerilla warfare, booby traps and making use of a drawn-out spoken word sample that is more than likely an active serviceman of the conflict sharing his experiences in real time. Sub drops and dramatic pauses are especially used to great effect, keeping the listener on the edge of their seat for its entire duration. Injecting some more Metal into your Core, “972” opts to shake up the formula a tad with a more involved riffing style that pushes the limit of technicality from caveman chugs to caveman chugs with the occasional ridiculously catchy main riff that perfectly illustrates what would happen if Slayer suddenly decided that sludge is the new thrash. The brief stylistic departure almost feels like a subtle nod of acknowledgement toward the wider metal scene that helped them reach the heights they currently soar at, with drummer Isaac Lamb taking a liking to a faster-paced, double-kick oriented play style reminiscent of the genre.
Single number two “Low Tech” appropriately returns to the lower end of the fretboard and brings the groove in spades, effortlessly winning over fans and newcomers alike with its communally shared vocal deliveries and unadulterated primeval rhythms. If “Theory Of Mind” is the undisputed icon of Exhibition Of Prowess then “Low Tech” doesn’t stray far behind, remaining a fan favourite despite being slightly overshadowed by it’s simian-smitten big brother. “A Hopeless Fate” (Feat. Jamey Jasta) is probably the track that left the biggest initial impression on me – its closing segment is an utterly hair-raising sequence that I’m not ashamed to say gave me goosebumps the first few times I listened to it. The emergency alert sample coupled with the earth-shattering thuds of Nolan Ashley and Eric English’s string section make up an irresistible headbanger and unforgettable climax for the album, all coming to a head with Mr. Honeycutt’s fearless warcry “PROVE IT TO ME” leading the charge on the listener’s eardrums.
Taking on the monumental task of following up on the original “Antpile” is no easy feat, especially given its reputation as a song of very few words (five to be precise). However, its sequel not only understands what made its predecessor so addictive, but also knows how to up the ante in an incredibly entertaining manner. “Antpile 2” knows exactly what it is: choosing to revel in its own legendary status and soaking in every last drop through as grandiose an opening as Kublai Khan TX can muster, all building up to one single word that sets the track in motion: “TWO.” is all that needs to be uttered as the song detonates like a self-servient firework celebrating its own existence. It’s equal parts hard as nails and silly as a box of lights – topping off the album on a tremendously high note regardless of whether the absurdity of it all has you lost for words or if you’re just caught up in the jam.
Much alike said closer Kublai Khan TX are the perfect example of a band who know exactly who they are and what their place is within the confines of the genre – they may not blow your mustache off with unspeakable tricks and technicalities, but their core sound consistently tickles the brain enough to become a key player on the front lines of the scene – hand-delivering nothing less than an absolutely knuckle-dragging, primal yet accessible experience and never shying away from whipping the listener into shape via a sharp spin kick to the jaw for good measure. Whilst initially the deceivingly-lacking length of the album served as a concern, it quickly became clear that if it were any longer it would run the genuine risk of lethal fatality. Now that you’ve monkey seen my thoughts, monkey do yourself a favour and listen to this album at your nearest convenience.
8.5/10
Exhibition Of Prowess will be released via Rise Records on Friday, March 20th. You can pre-order it here.