Alias

Alias blazed a trail of electronic experimentation with 2011's Fever Dream, taking less of a lyrical approach than the red-hot verses on 2008's Resurgam. Now, with Pitch Black Prism, Alias has shown he's grown as a musician and willing to take even more risks. "Slackened Onyx," a lean track clocking in at 41 seconds, is built atop a dizzying syncopated beat, making it a challenging but satisfying listen. Therese Workman brings cacophonous, synthesized vocals to the track "Indiigo," but her creepy tonalities make a perfect pairing to Alias' cheery, tinkling synth. "Crimson Across It" combines the growling immediacy of fellow Anticon artist Doseone's aggressive rhymes (the only true lyrics on the album) with a synthesized, child-choir hook, allowing his verses to cut into the listener with a groovy, head-bobbing rhythm.

Each track cuts into the next whether the listener is ready or not, and that urgent flow of the album is its most defining feature. There is no risk that tracks will bleed together, because Alias is careful to remind the listener exactly where they are in Pitch Black Prism's complex storyline. Fever Dream gave us a glimpse of his experimental potential three years ago, and he has followed further down the path of exploration with Pitch Black Prism. Alias is less concerned with showcasing his lyrical abilities on this release — Pitch Black Prism is all about bending sound, and it is massive in its artistry.