Cannibal Ox has been on the lam since their debut in 2001. The Cold Vein gave them a reputation before infighting and creative differences with El-P, the album’s producer, made the prospects of a follow-up doubtful. Cooler heads eventually prevailed more than ten years later, and after careful crafting, The Blade of the Ronin is a manifestation of their reunion.
Blade of the Ronin follows a similar blueprint to The Cold Vein. Bill Cosmiq replaces El-P as the sole producer, save for one beat by Black Milk (“Blade: The Art of Ox”). The album also runs on the longer side, with 14 tracks and five skits. Cann Ox has a unique pseudo-spirituality about themselves; their lyrics are wrought with biblical references and wisdom derived from the Nation of Gods and Earths. Musically, Blade of the Ronin has cinematic undertones, with instrumental skits providing a loose inter-track cohesion. The only obstacle is a proneness to monotony.
In terms of delivery, Vordul is consistent and Vast is not. His flow is unpredictable, and his slow raps are an acquired taste. When both of them stick to the basics, though, the dynamic changes and elevates the group. Technicalities aside and aforementioned spirituality notwithstanding, Cannibal Ox caters to the smarter audiences. On “Iron Rose,” Vordul spits: “We made it through hard shit like fish with large fins / The hearts of men, enlightening silence / Writing iron scripts, escaping dark dazes.” Vast, meanwhile, invokes motifs and metaphors pertinent to the subject matter with terse prescience. On “The Fire Rises,” he declares: “I’m a celestial czar / I change my crown of thorns into a crown of stars.” Unsuspecting listeners may not fully appreciate the thought that goes into the rhymes. As a result, if paired with the recurrent unorthodox flows and dense narratives, some songs are more polarizing than others (“Psalm 82;” “Water”).
Bill Cosmiq deserves much credit for the resonating musical vibe. Replacing El-P is no easy task, but he does so admirably, with a myriad of different sounds. “Iron Rose” is magnificent, backdropping grandiose lyrical performances, and the seemly chosen guest, DOOM. Aptly titled, “The Power Cosmiq,” demonstrates his knack for digging with an esoteric sing-songy female vocal sample and heavy drums and synths. Sometimes the beats ride for too long after the verses, interrupting the flow of the album (“Harlem Knights”), or they simply seem misused (“Water”). His work is commendable nonetheless, and the Black Milk contribution is the cherry on top.
Blade of the Ronin is a dense collection of music. Fans of lyricism will appreciate the wordplay, as well as the contributions from artists like Elzhi and DOOM, among many others. The intelligent rhymes are also a unique break from today’s more predictable trends, though they aren’t for everyone. On the production side, Bill Cosmiq provides a powerful musical landscape that plays like a movie. Cannibal Ox put noticeable effort into their first album in 14 years, though such a hiatus likely forced them to take a more conservative approach.
THIS SHIT WAS STARIGHT GARBAGE STOP HYPING THIS SHIT UP
#TAKE THE L
NIGGA SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GO LISTEN TO YOUR DRAKE AND BIG SEAN CDS JUST CUZ YOUY CANT APPRECIATE REAL HIPHOP DOESNT MEAN IT DOESNT EXIST NOW TAKE THIS L AND GAG ON IT OL’ STINKY ASS BEEEEYOTCH
Yeah I agree with this review. I would have given it 3/5 though. It was disappointing, but has some redeemable qualities, if little reply value for me.
I am one of many people who liked and still likes “The Cold Vein”. I listened to their solo material after can ox split up…. vast aire was garbage. vordul mega was mediocre, nothing id go back and play over and over again. But when i heard they were making another album, i was weary but excited. I listened to the track featuring MF doom….sorry but not sorry – it was lame. wack.
just give it up yall. idk something about it…. its just wack.
Damn is this the same person writing every comment? This album is fire, its been pretty much universally praised. Really you didn’t like Iron Rose or Blade with Artifacts and U-God but you post on HipHopDX? One of the best albums I’ve heard in the past year and way better than Vast and Vordul solo albums
Dam straight. This is an astonishing album. One of the best of this year.
Damn, is this the same person writing all the comments below? This album is fire, not sure how any Cannibal Ox fan could hate on this. Its way better than Vast and Vordul’s solos. Really you didn’t like Iron Rose or Blade with Artifacts and U-God but you post on HipHopDX??
5/5
I copped the deluxe. One of the best shits I heard in a while. No idea why yall thrownin shade I give it 5 stars. Great raps n beats. Better than the last quarter album by a landslide
Not feeling it, sad because The Cold Vein is one of my favorite albums of All Time. Production was okay but nothing even close to Cold Vein, but the real problem is the lack of chemistry. You can tell this is a group of guys that haven’t recorded together in a more than a decade.
‘The Cold Vein’ is much, much better. 3/5
this album is incredible.
it’s not the cold vein. that album was a classic the first time i heard it. this is a different project and i come away from it thinking vast and vordul are the perfect match. bill cosmiq did a great job keeping a uniformed sound, drum heavy space bangers. “water” track is insane, one of the best tracks i’ve heard from these guys since their classic cold vein. i don’t think vast aire is the master he was on cold vein. he was incredible on that album, and he never really lived up those levels. that being said he has his moments here and vordul has the same hazy flow where he squeaks in little pieces of profound poetry that you catch after multiple listens. “sabertooth” is my favorite track on the project. great album. the beats bang and it’s got some food for thought to chew on. well done. don’t wait 15 yrs for the next one.
That Black Milk beat sounds too similar to the Castle & Has-Lo track “Stubborn Vice”
it’s different than ‘Cold Vein’ but still a banger
5/5
Very, very disappointing.
amazing album. made me check out their earlier work, no regrets! great
Why are people comparing this to The Cold Vein? Of course that one is better, it’s one of the best hip hop albums released in this century. That being said, this one was surprisingly good, especially the production, which I though would be weaker. Might be the best hip-hop album yet this year.
That “Harlem Knights” track that you can listen to is not very good, dudes flow sucks
Lol how’d this get more stars than Jarren Benton’s EP?
You guys tweakin’
“solar system on my collabone..” , please, that “Fire Rises” piece is genius and elevates the album alone to greatness. Everybody has their own favorite Ox track on both albums. I think though, like Cold Vein this is an album that grows better over time and eventually each track becomes a favorite. Modern classic for me. 5/5