Phoenix, Arizona trap metal outfit the Dropout Kings now consisting of vocalists Eddie Wellz & Rob Sebastian, guitarists Chucky Guzman & Jeremy Garcia and finally Joe Lana Jr. on drums/percussion releasing their 3rd studio LP. Making their debut in 2018 off their full-length debut AudioDope & gaining more momentum a couple years later with their debut EP GlitchGang, they signed to Suburban Noize Records for their divisive sophomore effort Riot Music even if I personally have it as my favorite in their discography. The original lead singer Adam Ramey tragically took his life this spring & the Kings are dedicating Yokai to his memory.
“Black Sheep” starts the album with a rap metal/nu metal throwback talking about being out of their minds whereas “Brace Yourself” advises to prepare for what they’ve done to break themselves embracing both styles of the intro once again. “Baka” gets back to the band’s trap metal roots promising to live & die by honor as well as referencing my favorite WR of all-time Randy Moss, but then “F.T.W. (Fuck the World)” lividly gives a middle finger to everyone around them.
The rap metal vibes return for “Devil Fruit” observing the game for being as cutthroat as it is just before “First Day Out” starts the 2nd half of Yokai with the most melodic moment on the entire project singing about life going south & things looking brighter these days. “Guillotine” blends rap metal & alternative metal together so they can speak of finding their own ways around the darkness while “Fake It” asks if their names will be said or disappeared if they happened to fade away.
Meanwhile on the title track, we have the Dropout Kings going in an industrial hip hop direction instrumentally talking about bringing knifes to gun fights & becoming smartasses when they get too high prior to the rap rock-tinged “Eye Bleach” suggesting that they should be treating all these other bands in their lane like they’re children advising to hang it up already. The closer “Deadname” ends the sextet’s Napalm debut with a metalcore/rap metal hybrid wanting to be buried as their former forenames.
Getting to see the Dropout Kings live during both the Gathering of the Juggalos & Fright Fest in the late summer/early fall of 2021, what could most likely be Adam Ramey’s final recordings ever celebrates everything he stood for marks a bittersweet end of an era in the group’s story. The indomitable will, ambition, struggle & pain that’ve shaped these guys into what they are today get vouched for adapting to trap metal’s evolution during a time of their greatest loss.
Score: 8/10