Abominationz [Twiztid 25th Anniversary] Twiztid Artist

To the untrained ear, it might seem that every album issued by {|Twiztid|} was inspired by hate, but {|Abominationz|} lives up to that press release claim, offering a more jagged and angry version of the horrorcore rap group's usual darkness. The pissed-and-loving-it vibe begins with Bad Side, a swampy blues-rap track produced by {|Michael Seven Summers|}, who is as to {|Twiztid|} as {|Mike E. Clark|} is to {|Insane Clown Posse|}, offering a dark carnival's worth of studio tricks with production that's layered. Horror sound effects and other evil whatnot often provide the base under {|Summers|}' rock-rap beats, but he's versatile too, offering a simple electro-grind when mentors {|ICP|} join for the title track, giving fans their super team-up upfront without the clutter. As far as {|Twiztid|} as rappers, here they're as shameless and gross (I'm unstoppable, like a HIV plus plenty of references to murder, suicide, and bodily functions to enjoy) as ever, although the tempo of their delivery has steadily increased, making the {|Abominationz|} lyric sheet longer than previous albums. Extension Chords considers hanging oneself as an easy out to this wretched life, and This Is Your Anthem offers welcome to a brand new hate during its {|Kiss|}-like, stomping chorus, but negative attraction rap-rock doesn't usually come with so much life behind it, or so much sick wit. Even if it's overstuffed, the rap-rock power ballad LDLHA-IBCSYWA doesn't fit, and impressionable kids shouldn't come anywhere near it, {|Abominationz|} finds {|Twiztid|} delivering the hyped-up, hate-filled, horror-rap goods with plenty of punch and the grimmest of jokes. Rep That Wicked, indeed. ~ David Jeffries