Monsters II might be the most aptly named project of the year. Swollen Members devote their time, energy and lyrics to paint a dark but manic picture. Mad Child and Prevail don’t hide from their history of drug abuse, affiliations, or career up and downs and tackle it head on. The title is just what it implies, an album that bares the darkest parts of their soul.
The duo’s always masterfully structured back and forth blends beautifully with dark production. Mad Child and Prevail not only deliver a conceptually executed album, but showcase their underrated lyrical abilities. “Dream Chaser” is crafted expertly with a killer hook. “Chase the dream, create the scene/ Face the flames/ Erase the pain.” The chanted hook is memorable and gives a dark album a beam of hope. Swollen Members balance the line between creating an album that is strictly horrorcore and one that delves into human emotion. “The Mind Suffers/ The thoughts are all scattered/ With delicate matters and elegant patterns/ Betrayal of myself, I’m beyond redemption…” Mad Child not only delivers a memorable four lines but ones that pack an enormous amount of content on “Broken Mirror.” 
Not until track seven, “Agent Orange” does the group even remotely stumble. It’s a testament to the strength of the album and details just how close the group came to making a genre defining album. The stand out track “Trust” features another sick hook and is as complicated, yet harmonic as the word itself. Dope collaborations, specifically an amazing West Coast collaboration with Souls of Mischief and Strong Arm Steady on “Execution” is as sharp and tough as all parties involved have sounded in years. “Honor Combat” is ring entrance music that will most certainly be adapted by every MMA hopeful’s training regiment. The differing album content switches up just enough to create a varying narrative of “Monsters.”
Swollen Members absolutely create a dope follow up to their first quarter success of Dagger Mouth. Both Prevail and Mad Child use the sonic canvas to paint the dark picture they’ve lived. Fueled by dope hooks, well thought out guest appearances, and a few released tracks, Monsters II continues the recent success of Swollen Members.
Wow, a 4? DX, I am shocked.
And I didn’t even see an ad for this album on the home page.. This may be a first
Jeah! another Swollen album, can’t wait to hear this
It is out on iTunes, get it – shit is TIGHT! It rivals Dagger Mouth, i like the energy on Dagger Mouth a little more, but the lyrics on here are awesome and more deep than on Dagger Mouth!
Swollen Members, you are fucking awesome. Keep it up. 5 Stars.
I ONLY LISTEN TO GODS NOT DEVILS….. TRY TO RUN GAME ON A NIGGA.
Meh
definetly great, equal quality like “dagger mouth” i dont who why is so much hate on swollen (not here on hhdx), theyre definetly one of the best underground hip hop group right now
Glad Mad child is rapping about more that just how much drugs fucked him up!
Dagger mouth was nice, introspective but if this album had the same content I would have been disappointed.
They didn’t disappoint.. Swollen back on deck!!
ps.. did this review just get out of kindergarten.. Hella boring read for a album rated so high
swollen destroys it as always. souls joint is on repeat
2 hot albums in one year and a nice mixtape in between: Good job.
Tons of dope Swollen material this year. I hope 2012 is the same
swollens back, this album sounds fucken legit.
Yyaaaayyyyy
cool
the album sucks the last one was much better
then this , shit should been a mixtape
fagget
Ugly artwork. Ugly music.
fag
Good start but need to exert a little more
so why is this rated so low and that lame jay-z kanye cd rated so high this is prob my fav cd thats dropped so far this month a couple songs i dont rly like but overall it was a very good lyrically and some sick beats with that
Broken Mirror has a sick beat, but they ruined it..
Awesome beats
disgusting, great album. Mads MADE mixtape was also impressive, guess these guys are back in the zone. I’m still enjoying daggermouth
dope
Dagger mouth lexus album with extremepoison.Yeahhh compliments from Praha Pio
One of the best hip-hop albums I’ve ever heard in my life
Your brain is made of rotten wood