comprehend the madness is the genre-defying debut LP from Atlantic City artist ebnyrave, whose sound reminds fondly of Yves Tumor’s melodic, stylishly intense blends. Refusing traditional classification, the record blends industrial hip-hop, art-folk, and heavy rock-forward distortion into a cohesive sonic palette that reflects the chaos of the modern world.
Whirring, hectic rhythms drive into stirring guitar distortion and emotively escalating vocals as the album commences with “INHUMANSKIN.” “I wake up to go through the same thing,” the fervent vocals push forward, thematically ruminating on daily grinds and repetition. A visceral shift takes hold as the first minute concludes, enamoring with eerie synths and “I’m a monster” proclamations. The buzzing guitar distortion and dynamic vocals, shifting between shouty vigor and introspective intrigue, make for a sound that reminds stirringly of Yves Tumor.
Ensuing track “garden state parkway” succeeds in another realm entirely, conjuring a heartfelt folk-laden pop yearning initially, swelling into blissfully eclectic doses of production — from elegant piano trickling and cinematic strings infusions to powerfully soaring guitar solos; the result is exemplary of the artist’s impressive range, tonally and emotionally, the latter present in yearning lyrics conveying being “trapped in the tristate” and moving “away from this place” together, furthering the opener’s themes of personal malaise. “heat.wav” arrives next, more anthemic in its delectably infectious “heatwave in the dead of the night” vocal refrain, bolstered by gliding guitar lines and enthused backing vocal reflections.
A grimier briskness follows on “ICANSHOWYOU,” with catchy rhythmic flair, spacey synth pulses, and suave vocal layers maneuvering into a seductive “let me see it” beckoning and compelling hip-hop delivery in the final minute, tonally resembling the darkly impactful allure of clipping. “Like a clinical death, I’m out of breath,” a captivating vocal enthrallment shows on the subsequent “when i get sober,” its references to “pulling the plug” and citing another person as a reason for living resonating into a “I just wanna die” confessional midpoint, complemented by melodic, shoegaze-y guitar tones. The album stirs in its emotional range, from the heart-on-sleeve personal suffering within “when i get sober” to the hopeful yearnings for escape conveyed in “garden state parkway.”
Another standout comes in “cheap parade,” fully embracing the hard-rock arsenal as heavy guitars and clanging bass move into a “let the system control you” angst, showing an artful critique of a manipulative system and those willing to remain complacent within it. Vibrant synths and ascending emotion make for an especially artful midpoint. “hypocritical!” then finds a lovable ground between arpeggiated hyperpop energy and industrial hip-hop entrancement, while album finale “CONTAMINATED” continues “we can’t take it anymore” laments on a deteriorating self, mentally and physically, amidst invigorating vocal interactions and club-ready pop blaring. Its reference to the album title, somehow “comprehending the madness” within life, consumes into an enveloping guitar solo, concluding the album with satiating finality. comprehend the madness is a masterful full-length showing from ebnyrave.
