Axe Murder Boyz – God's Hand (2009)

By Ben Vernel

Yes, you read correctly and yes, you should be a little bit horrified.

This hip hop duo is named Axe Murder Boyz...

These rappers decided, of their own volition, to name themselves after a despicable and horrendous crime. And that right there tells you all you need to know about this album.

If filthy, violent lyrics coupled with harsh beats and horror movie sampling tickles your fancy, then "God's Hand" may just be your thing.

It isn't my thing.

However, I have been given the task of reviewing this tripe – that is to say, awesome, in your face, dark and disturbed horrorcore (fair and balanced, no?) – so I'd better get on with it.

The duo burst - like a bellyful of maggots - onto the alternative rap scene in 2004 with "The Unforgiven Forest", a concept album that chronicles a bunch of guilty trees and their path to redemption (one must assume).

The group performed at the Insane Clown Posse's "The Gathering Of The Juggalos" festival, and won (through audience voting) a chance to record and release an album through the ICP's own Psychopathic Records.

"Blood In, Blood Out", a contemplative look at the state of the Red Cross in modern society (I think), was released to some acclaim.

And now here we are.

"God's Hand". Released by Hatchet House, a sub-label of Psychopathic Records (presumably because it's just too damn awesome for the major label), "God's Hand" is two parts insanity and one part craziness.

It's the result of broken childhoods and a twisted public school system. It's teen angst filtered through adult rage and cinematic horror.

As you can see, I've dropped the charade of being fair and balanced.

This kind of music is just plain bad.

Even if it's well-made (which "God's Hand" isn't), it's bad. It makes you feel bad, it fosters unhelpful moods and it provokes dark thoughts.

I love hip hop, but I hate this.

RATING: 0.5 out of 5