ALT BLK ERA Becomes Super Human on Debut Album ‘Rave Immortal’
Genre-blind siblings Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam are in a league of their own. Defying all odds, they masterfully mash drum and bass, rock, and alt-pop like musical mad scientists. Together they create a sonic experience that could be the most addicting music released this year. The album, titled Rave Immortal, is short, consisting of only 10 songs, but each track packs a major punch with emotional depth and raw sonic force.
Nyrobi’s personal experience with an invisible disability inspired the album. The disability left her bedridden and isolated, and the emotions from that time ooze from each track, beginning to end. From the first track “Straight to Heart,” she poignantly captures the pain of isolation and despair caused by her battle. She sings of knowing the world is passing her by and begging for someone to save her and help her heal. “Stay please, my friends have all withdrawn/ Aching for pills so I can stop/ Feeling my invisible scars/ Forsake me, I'll take it straight to heart.”
All Nyrobi wants is to get back to her life and her friends. She’s calling out to anyone to help her achieve this goal — and her sister answers.
The track “Come On Outside” feels like a continuation of this fear, but instead of Nyrobi’s perspective, it’s Chaya’s. It reminds you that even though life can be agonizing at times, there's someone there to help you push through those feelings. Nyrobi had that in Chaya. Even in her darkest hour, she had the support of her sister to guide her along.
“Come On Outside” showcases the strength Nyrobi gained from her sister’s support. The track is powerful in its effort to heal Nyrobi, uplifting the listener as well. Its solemn tone contains an overall hopeful element that just about anyone can relate to. This is where the ALT BLK ERA regains their sense of self.
Their power builds even more in “Crashing Parties" and “My Drummer’s Girlfriend.” These songs are the first time there is a glimpse into the rave aspect of Rave Immortal. For “Crashing Parties,” it's the hyperactive intensity of it. It begins operatically but quickly builds into this unstoppable, shimmering instrumental that vibrates through your bones. As the track that follows “Come On Outside,” it continues this story of Nyroibi coming back to life in a major way. This track highlights the human ability to fight past your afflictions, crash some parties and live again. “I refuse to be left out” is the final lyric heard before exploding into the well-known single “My Drummer’s Girlfriend."
“My Drummers Girlfriend” goes the opposite direction. Moving away from an EDM influence to a pop-punk sound, some classic electric guitar, the pounding heartbeat of a drum kit and a subtle computer-generated buzz season this track. “My Drummer’s Girlfriend” showcases Nyrobi’s feeling of being unwanted because of a change in dynamics since her absence.
The lyric, “She's pouring up drinks but she's pouring one less” goes back to the statement in “Crashing Parties”— the lyric “I refuse to be left out” is a sentiment that plays a larger role in the album. She wants to be included but is constantly left out, briefly reminding her of the isolation she felt not so long ago.
The reminder of isolation drives Nyrobi's desperate need for connection, which is exemplified in the song “Hunt You Down.” This obsessive love song starts with a downtempo vibe, showcasing Nyrobi's exploration of a dangerous fixation that can arise from a deep longing for connection. The threatening notion of hunting down a lover, combined with a tortured dance beat, amplifies the desperation conveyed in the track. "Hunt You Down" and "My Drummer's Girlfriend" represent two sides of the same coin; this desperate passion for another person reinforces the defiant feelings expressed in the latter half of the album.
Chaya and Nyrobi are making a point: from the first track to the halfway point of the record, the sisters grow and evolve into their true forms. They are no longer bound by the restraints of their previous emotions. This half of the album is celebrating their breakthrough and setting up for immortality with “Upstairs Neighbors.” This track is insane — so much energy is packed into just a short three minutes it almost requires multiple listens. They've powered up, and are now building momentum for the coming tracks.
“Come Fight Me For It” and “Run Rabbit” have this same energy, building and building into this superhuman android-esque musicality. Extremely industrial in parts and downright explosive in others, in these tracks, they are truly shedding their human form and entering stage one of metamorphosis.
Stage two is initiated when “Catch Me If You Can” transitions in. A momentary rest from the synthesized madness of previous tracks, “Catch Me If You Can” is stunning. The track harbors this horror-inspired gothic metal soundscape while the lyrics hold the weight of confidence. The title itself taunts the listeners and any advisories the siblings may face. As the second to last track on the album, it brings the story full circle.
“Catch Me If You Can” is what it looks like to be at full superhuman ability. The switch from drum and bass to operatic vocals and grinding metal guitar showcases the almost evil villain aura that comes with reacquainting with your true self. Nyrobi was never meant to be the girl alone begging for help, but her sister had to support her so she could see that for herself. Now she’s riding high with Chaya by her side, giving the world the finger and triumphantly saying try and stop me from living my best life.
The final stage bursts from the seams with the last and title track “Rave Immortal.” The track completely lives up to its name: they’ve leveled up, they're completely otherworldly and they're here to rave forever. That sisterly bond of doing something together forever after defeating what they thought was the end is palpable.
From suffering to immortality, Rave Immortal tells the story of how Nyrobi and Chaya’s strong relationship keeps them from succumbing to despair, clawing their way out of situations that hold them down and becoming rave immortals. A metamorphosis has taken place and it's too beautiful to ignore.
