Wise folks talk about “the calm before the storm”, and I’ve never encountered such a literal example--I'm talking about the return of Zack de la Rocha and his solo single “Digging for Windows”.
While Prophets of Rage emerged earlier this year with such a bang, as was to be expected I’d say—many others could only speculate the whereabouts of Rage Against The Machine’s former vocalist. Prophets, however, addressed his dive into solo productions and claimed that the band had Zack’s full support with the band's current status.
Well, like I said, the man’s back with a new single, folks. And he’s loud, and he’s booming, and he’s banging—here comes the storm.
The track begins with a constant boom-boom echoing to an ethereal bass sound—and then we hear Zack: “This city’s a trap my partner/ Under the lights of they choppers / Bodies tools for they coffers / Not worth the cost of our coffins / I stare at a future so toxic / No trust in the dust of a promise / Won’t mark the name on a ballot / So they can be free to devour our options”.
The overall impression is indescribable. At best perhaps most can agree to Stereogum’s definition of “Digging for Windows” as “a monster, pounding skronk-rap attack with the sort of brain-shattering evolutionary Bomb Squad production that El-P has been bringing to Run the Jewels… [with guitars and drums] big enough to, at the right volumes, reduce your ribcage to atoms”.
Nostalgic? Perhaps even reminiscent? I can’t assure you its classic Zack, but I can tell you that listening to this new single hits home in many many ways, but it also hits something new. But I’ll leave that all to your perusing.
By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com
