Pennsylvania-based rapper S.O.N., hailing from Sharon, has reached another milestone with his second album, which is simultaneously the debut under Long Live Evil. This emcee, known in the circles of the Legion Realm and the Hivemind movement, began making a name for himself in the summer of 2021 following the release of his first record "Grant Us Eyes. It was also the year he shined at the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos. Since his deal with the legendary Alla Xul Elu label, it feels like the stars are perfect for The Bastard Son to take the hip-hop game by storm.
The album kicks off with an atmospheric "Invocation" intro, after which the title track crafted by Billy Obey makes its appearance with a tribute to the beast, backed by a dark boom bap vibe. In "Requiem," which is a collaboration with Billy Obey himself, the two describe how they symbolically set the church ablaze in memory. The track "Sulphur" has S.O.N. reflecting on the tantalizing chemistry he feels as soon as he starts rapping. After the mystical "Hanged Man" interlude, "Where Fear Lives" immerses you in a sea of blue roses, blurring the line between reality and illusion.
"Under My Skin" keeps the boom bap spirit alive with its theme of new life creation. Then "Tenebrous" fearlessly warns that the Legion Realm always remains invincible. S.O.N. and Keagan Grimm come together in "Absolution" to discuss how we are all like cattle for the cause as we count our scars and wander aimlessly. After the "3 of Swords" interlude, "Fire Walk with Me" evokes a fiery inner battle that never quenches.
The Bastard Son's final act shoots fire with "The Rot," a track that visually paints decay atop a boom bap rhythm. "Apocalyptic," with a feature by Stray, revolves around cleansing the earth with fire, then "Death," produced by Slasher Dave, further sets the mood with the collapse of the sky and the inevitable end. The closing "Thy Will Be Done" states that everyone is bound by blood in this musical journey.
Nearly four years after his debut, S.O.N. has once again set the tone for a new era of what he likes to call doom bap with this LLE project. Where 'Grant Us Eyes' already impressed with its horrorcore influences and traditional boom bap beats, this release shows that S.O.N. is further fueling his fire of style, offering Legion Realm a timeless sound that once again adds salt to the hip-hop scene. Long Live Evil reminds us of that raw energy that seemed lost in the past, but is now alive and well thanks to this record. Score? A big 9/10, saltier it couldn't be!
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