Riot Music
Riot Music makes its intentions clear quickly. Dropout Kings connect rapping with heavy guitars and trap's rapid electronic percussion. The sound is polished and voices emerge clearly. A direct approach makes the record easily accessible, but rhythms do not always provide sufficient distinction. Similar short hi-hat patterns and backing tracks return frequently. Vocal force can consequently seem greater than the movement the music actually supplies. Songs sound more convincing individually than when placed immediately beside each other, revealing the limits of a dependable formula.
Hit Like This immediately establishes the guitar and rapid hi-hat combination. Fighter Jet and No Notoriety connect more clearly with early Linkin Park's melodic side. Demons gives singing additional room while Tell Me later chooses a more acoustic trap sound. These gentler moments introduce useful change. Lights Out brings DED into a more melodic song, although the guest contribution makes less impression than the strongest moments from the band themselves. Such variation demonstrates that Dropout Kings can offer more than harsh outbursts above a busy rhythm.
The words provide less help. Emphasis on toughness and proving personal worth quickly becomes repetitive. In particular, Vacuum Cleaner's sexual boasting offers little of interest. The attitude gives the music a recognisable appearance but leaves little to discover behind its immediate energy. The band sound assured while the writing supplies too few fresh perspectives to make that confidence compelling. A strong delivery needs more than another declaration of superiority to hold attention across the record.
Riot Music has catchy moments, particularly when melody gets room. More individual ideas and stronger writing would make the album interesting for longer.
