Stoned Raiders

It may not be the season to be jolly anymore, but it certainly has been the season to release urban and hip-hop albums. Recent offerings by Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Warren G, Mobb Deep and Westlife (just kidding) have come out both hard and fast. December was a strong month for the inner-city sound, and this is one of the most accomplished CDs of that genus, from a band that ten years on, are still masters of their art.

They crafted a very distinctive sound from day one. The clipped vocals of B-Real are always instantly recognisable, and a Cypress Hill CD will always be identifiable from its first words. It is sure to have posturing character and be laden with gut-wrenching expletives. Guess what. This is no different. Named after a track on their 1995 album, Stoned Raiders is hard and heavy, with the mix of rap and metal becoming inextricably melded. If Rap Superstar or Insane In The Brain hit the spot, then this whole album should do too.

Still distinctive, yet remaining fresh, DJ Muggs both performs with and produces the foursome, Sen Dog is back again, plus the percussion from Bo-Bo adds up to one veritable wall of sound. The whole album has real power and is deceptively varied within the rap / metal guidelines too. Trouble and Kronologik refer to past tracks, bands and glory, along with the struggle they felt they have had to get recognized. Redman and Method Man are worthy collaborators on Red, Meth B whilst extra guitar sections add delicious flavour to Catastrophe, It Ain't Easy and Amplified - the latter almost becoming funky. Excellent. The welcome female vocals on Bitter makes that track outstanding, almost out of the Massive Attack mold.

It's not by chance that this album is titled as it is. The band have been tireless advocates for the use and legalisation of marijuana. Those sentiments have appeared in tracks on all their previous albums too. Light Another from their '92 self-titled debut, Legalize It from Black Sunday, the following year, Everybody Must Get Stoned, from their 1995 Temples Of Boom CD, High Times from IV, the list goes on. They don't just have something to say about drugs either, the messages on violence are equally clear. Lick A Shot, Cock The Hammer or A to the K are hardly disguised, and their hard edge is always rapped around gangsta bravado. Make no mistake, this CD comes with a very much required parental advisory' sticker.

Does it measure up to the excellence of their debut? Probably not, but after a decade at the cutting edge, this album is definite required listening, and proof that 'The Hill' are still a force to be reckoned with.