Over the last dozen years, Swollen Members perfected a brand of abstract rap disturbia. Two classics, two flops, and one comeback later, the MCs from the darker side of Northwestern America, have more explaining to do. 2009‘s move to Suburban Noize Records saw the end of S&M’s Battleaxe Records. What followed was an absolute howler of an album called Armed To The Teeth. If Black Magic was the apology album for the shameless stab at commercial success of 2003‘s Heavy, Dagger Mouth is the explanation album to the outright embarrassment of Armed To The Teeth.
A hefty amount of Dagger Mouth’s burden falls on the shoulder’s of the Misguided Angel, Mad Child. The Rocksteady Crew affiliate candidly admits to a multi-million dollar opiate dependency in each of the album’s 16 tracks. “Thought I wanted to be king so I wore a crown/ started from the bottom, built an empire and tore it down,” he confesses on the Transformer-themed “Fresh Air.” 
Mad Child, is somber, regretful and, at times, completely unconvinced about his own recovery. “The Shining,” opens with, “I’m feeling like I wanna die,” before he goes on to qualify himself as an addict through “heroin and tin foil” plain speak. Prevail seems lost in certain instances. During his verse on “The Shining,” Prev 1’s joke lines feel jarring, “I’m classic Old Spice/ you are Spice Girl scary.” Still, this palpable paranoia and train-of-thought lunacy lay nicely together as contraries within the album’s trademark Swollen sound.
Handling Dagger Mouth’s entire production, the group’s longtime tour DJ Rob The Viking, revisits the Vancouver chamber drums and chords that extract the best of both MCs. Along with the almost-kitschy “Fresh Air” instrumental, Rob gains experimental wins with the drip-drop single “Mr. Impossible,” and the pudgy pendulum rhythm on “The Predator.” Rob takes the right kind of risks on the lengthy, “White Python/Black Tarantula/Sound of the Drum.” The beat evolution and shifting thought patterns of each MC heighten the nuanced track as a standout. “Fire” hints at the circus pace that kicked Black Magic into another gear, but that never feels possible during this release.
Label mate and fellow comeback architect Saigon features on the album finale, another version of Giddy’s “Bring Me Down.” Mad Child concludes, “Sharpen up my axe/ and I am back/ I’m here to sever heads/ compulsive obsessive, I’m also aggressive/ my mouth is the message, my life is a lesson, my pulse is a blessing.”
Dagger Mouth is about pain. It’s an admission of guilt, a therapy session, and a shred of light on one of rap’s darkest group’s darkest moments. And it is, without a doubt, an explanation.
Listen to the full album Dagger Mouth
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5*
Damn, I did not see a 4 coming. Wow.
Love this album. Swollen Members have returned
I’m wondering why everybody is saying Armed to the teeth is weak
I like this album ! dagger mouth is awesome too
North Western America??? WTF is that shit DX, common and just out right say their from Canada…like fuck, show a lil more respect and props for our country and stop dancing around the bush
nobody gives a flying fuck about your gay little bush fagg-o.
Maybe 5 is a better rating.
5*
agree with the previous… this album is a FIVE STARS
one of my faves
Swollen has officially fallen off..2 weak ass albums in a row. We need another Black Magic!
If you put black magic and dagger mouth and shuffled them in a playlist, you woulndt see a drop in quality. Stop hating and open up your ears, its called the evolution of music
@ RT you are a retard this album is right up there with Black Magic. Way better than armed to the teeth. This is a 5+ you show me any cd that came out this year with the same production quality and lyrics! Every song on this cd is super hard
5 stars. I can’t decide which I like more. Do Or Die or That House of Sin joint. And that song Fire is actually Fire.
hell yeah “fire” got that fire. that song is a banger yup
And why the FUCK did u post a video of bollywood chick???? step your shit up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KDrnCYztmg
Mr Impossible. dope ass video
I’ve always been on the fence with these guys, but I’m really into this album. Dark but also kind of…bouncy?
great album 4.75 stars. i thought that last track remix was cheesy and record label created. and i know they have toured w/ saigon and madchild says hes dope and everything. but they could have at least done a real collab. anyway rob the viking super on point here, some of his best work. madchild def. steals the show and starts most tracks but prevail rips and shreds every track to close it, he is a monster on this lp too. it’s interesting how rob the viking is pictured on back and the booklet is filled w/ madchild pics and info (new album dope sick and new mixtape m.a.d.e.-produced by madlib(old beats obviously). whats the deal w/ prevail’s upcoming shit? BETTER THAN BLACK MAGIC
Out of the box hip hop, Rob steps it up with his beats and Prev and Mad’s lyrics have intense flow…I wouldn’t call Armed to the Teeth and embarrassment tho? But Daggermouth is def on a dff level..Instant classic #BAW
Pick this up immediately. It is sick. From beginning to end. Right up there with Balance/Bad Dreams/Black Magic. If you don’t know bout Swollen then check them out ASAP! They are back and it looks like they are here for good this time.
amazing album
rob the viking taking it back..Even tho mad n prevs lyrics never tire the beats were getting a bit poppy..Swollen are definately back
Daggermouth album is GREAT. madchild verses are sick!!!!
Album is amazing!!!!
sick album!
swollen members = inflated penis ahahahahahah
This album is somewhat repetitive at times, but the lyrical contribution- particularly on Mad Child’s part- are absolutely top flight. Good for a full listen through any time.
Amazing album. Pick it up. Swollen is back and came hard with this one.
Swollen is back, dope album.
This Album was FIRE … Ive Enjoyed every Swollen Album to date. They showed how versatile they are throughout their career and deserve alot more attention than they get
I find his honesty and love for hip hop inspirational. A come back after going through some heavy shit makes me look up and want to keep my head up. Great beat, thank you for taking risks and creating an album like this. It’s refreshing.
They in their mode, no doubt, the album treads familiar ground but I think is fresh enough, and I’m glad it’s gotten back to the darkness of Deep End and Black Magic
Brutally average, I would say.
How many of y’all are addicted to opiates? Your minds are in the gutter! This album is not very impressive. SORRY
Swollen is always on point!
BAX WAR
i think hiphopdx’s view isnt fully accurate from a warrior’s stand point. i will agree that heavy is my least favorite album, but i still don’t agree that daggermouth is an “explanation” for “Armed to the Teeth”. Although different from the usual vibe, i found it enjoyable, Tech-N9NE, Talib Kwali?? No it ws a terrible album! WTF ever, maybe not like when Dilated, or Chali 2na was hittin the tracks but Prev’s always a lyrical genious, Mad’s sound has been dope and evolved since “What the Hell”, and I have found every album (except Heavy, no disrespect S&M), awesome. Daggermouth is dope, but then again when is Swollen not?!? Bless & Destroy!!!!
Armed had some killer tracks! Bollywood Chick and Warrior come to mind.
Gangsta
Soon mad child will be reppin a cane is his vids.
great album, mad child is killing it on this album, prev is always solid, the beats are disgusting. good work, not sure if it was all in home beats but they are just dope, will cop the instrumental as well.
mad child da beast…. 5/5
canada best rap
Madchild got the illest flow I’ve ever heard and Rob the Viking is incredible good producer!
I got to say Swollen Members are going high place’s in the music world. Daggermouth is fucking awesome. Great work mad child.
liked this
Swollen Members are one of the greatest musical acts of our times, hands down.
I love Swollen members. Madchild is so HOT!!!
Black Magic was actually my favorite album of all. That was dark, gritty and mystical at times. As for Dagger Mouth, this album is as good if not better than Armed to the Teeth. I swear some people who review this material need a better sense of accomplishment in the eyes of the bystander. SM is sick shit.
This album is sic. Swollen’s best in some time. Real hip hop. An album that I actually went out and purchased. So glad that these guys are back doing what they are so good at – making original/creative tracks that have meaning, and real depth.