The Fraternity :: Dark Arts of the Iron Age
:: Sleep 513/The Fraternity
as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon
![[Dark Arts of the Iron Age]](../coverart/frat-DarkArts.jpg)
After having several solo albums reveiewed throughout
the last decade, Orange County rapper Loose Logic revealed a new facet of his
persona by reaching out to us with The Fraternity's "Dark Arts of the Iron Age."
I didn't picture Logic as a "rolling with a crew" emcee before now -- he seemed
perfectly content to ride hard solo and take whatever success or failure that
would come along with it. Mind you that's not a trait unique to Logic. Anybody
who records and/or performs on their lives and dies by that sword. The "Iron
Age" was one all about that sword as well, as larger societies and communities
formed that could both support and consume the new products that came from
blast furances capable of purifying iron. Obviously weapons of warfare were a
strong component of that, but for the wealthy items made of iron were renowned
for their durability and symbolized the prestige of being able to afford something
that would last over the long haul. Sayings like "iron sharpens iron" have been
passed down over the ages to point out the strength that iron personifies.
The Fraternity is Logic's previously unseen crew, who for the life of me I can't
remember him mentioning or promoting before, but their "Dark Arts" album clearly
means to invoke those ancient times (ranging from 1200-600 BC by a Judeo-Christian
calendar) that are to some degree recorded and understood by the very iron artifacts
they left behind that survived to modern times. Written tablets could be broken,
papyrus scrolls could weather, crack and crumble, but well forged iron could endure
(and poorly made/kept could rust) for centuries. There's a clear mysticism implied
by the name of the album as well, and a hint of the conspiracy theories of those
who believe that "ancient technology" from "ancient aliens" explains humanity's
seemingly rapid progress from the stone age to modern civilizations around that
time. Some of that same vibe can be heard on "Sunken Place" with its haunting
background melody and repeated references to the Illuminati and mind control.
"Go learn that novus ordo seclorum is the message" quips the crew, a Latin
phrase meaning "new order of the ages" often misunderstood by conspiracy theorists
to mean "new world order." That's what we're working with for Logic's homies in The
Fraternity. There's an inherent mistrust of modern day society, figures of authority,
and what I would call a generally dark and forboding vibe. The same has been heard
from Wu-Tang Clan affiliates over the years like Killarmy, but it's not often the hallmark of a California hip-hop collective.
There's no doubt that The Fraternity would read books like William Cooper's
"Behold a Pale Horse
" though,
and you'll hear references to "Area 51" and "faking the moon landing" on tracks like
"The Owl" with sarcastic bars like "pray to whoever you think can save you and
remember The Fraternity hates you."
Logic was a hard rapper on his own, one I would compare to other soloists with
a rough around the edges attitude like Madchild and Slaine, but his
homies are more like Non Phixion. That's fine.
Every now and then hip-hop needs a dark group with dark foreboding raps, and with
POTUS 45 on high in Washington, these certainly feel like the New World Order and
Illuminati times so many rappers have prophesized. Of course if you predict enough
s--t over a long enough period of time you're eventually bound to get at least one
or two things right (see Nostradamus) by dumb luck if nothing else. Still it's not
all as bleak as this review might at first intimate - The Fraternity still lace their
raps with punchlines and double entendres like "Burn at the Steak."
One thing is for sure - neither Sleep TF, Jus Ra, Cain, X. Medina or Loose Logic
(the principal members of this crew) are playing around on "Iron Age of the Dark Arts."
They may have a few jokes just to keep things moving along and not totally bog you
down in how grim they are, but there's little question this is a serious album for
people who like their beats and rhymes colored blood red and ominous. Let me put it
to you this way - if you like Jedi Mind Tricks or the Vinnie Paz solo albums you'll probably like The Fraternity too. They're not
AS good as either of those but this hour long album fits comfortably into the
same wheelhouse.
Music Vibes: 7 of 10
Lyric Vibes: 7 of 10
TOTAL Vibes: 7 of 10
Originally posted: July 18, 2017
source: www.RapReviews.com
After having several solo albums reveiewed throughout
the last decade, Orange County rapper Loose Logic revealed a new facet of his
persona by reaching out to us with The Fraternity's "Dark Arts of the Iron Age."
I didn't picture Logic as a "rolling with a crew" emcee before now -- he seemed
perfectly content to ride hard solo and take whatever success or failure that
would come along with it. Mind you that's not a trait unique to Logic. Anybody
who records and/or performs on their lives and dies by that sword. The "Iron
Age" was one all about that sword as well, as larger societies and communities
formed that could both support and consume the new products that came from
blast furances capable of purifying iron. Obviously weapons of warfare were a
strong component of that, but for the wealthy items made of iron were renowned
for their durability and symbolized the prestige of being able to afford something
that would last over the long haul. Sayings like "iron sharpens iron" have been
passed down over the ages to point out the strength that iron personifies.
" though,
and you'll hear references to "Area 51" and "faking the moon landing" on tracks like
"The Owl" with sarcastic bars like "pray to whoever you think can save you and
remember The Fraternity hates you."