Band: Dark Lotus
Album: The Opaque Brotherhood
Label: Psychopathic Records
Length: 57:17
Rating: 3.5/5
By: Stuart Paterson
Date: May 06, 2008

It’s been four years since Dark Lotus dropped Black Rain, but now they’re back in full force with this wicked collection of new tunes under the concept of The Opaque Brotherhood: a shadowy, elite secret society who worships the power of the lotus. While this theme is never really expanded on, save for the title track, the album as a whole is a welcome continuation for this psychopathic supergroup. All the favourites are here: Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, Jamie Madrox, Monixide and Blaze Ya Dead Homie, and they’re all in peak form.

Although the songs might not have the dramatic impact of the material on Black Rain, they certainly embark in a new direction. For the most part, the tracks are fairly dark and low-key, but producers/musicians Akuma and Eric Davie incorporate subtle atmospherics and a distinct tribal feel to many of the songs, not to mention a Middle Eastern influence complimented by Egyptian references in the lyrics. This is a little odd, since the cover and CD art both hint at a Chinese theme, but that can be forgiven as every song flows together effortlessly, creating one moody fifty-seven minute experience if you have the time to sit through the whole thing.

Lyrically, they stay true to form with their patented wicked shit. “Black Sand,” “Can You Keep A Secret,” “Heinous,” and “Backwords” are the trademark twisted and imaginative tales, with the latter telling an ingenious series of narratives in reverse, sort of like that backwards Seinfeld episode, but clearly more vicious. When Violent J raps about a bullet flying out of someone’s neck and back into his gun barrel, you get a couple of Hollywood-worthy sound effects that actually make you feel as though you’re seeing it on the silver screen. Rarely have their lyrics been this evocative.

However, they unfortunately get a little ridiculous with tracks like “Witch Trapped in This Song,” which is a stretch since it’s literally about an ancient, evil witch who lives inside the music and has cursed the lyrics. The most interesting about it is the reversed speaking at the end, which, when corrected in an audio editing program, reveals clips of a woman and man speaking of witchcraft ceremonies and “skyclad,” a practice whereby a coven will perform Wiccan rituals in the nude.

“Follow The Leader” and “Keep Up” are a little more masturbatory than usual, where in the former track they declare “We’re so ahead of our time.” That statement seems unnecessary since it’s clear to everyone who has paid attention that the entire Psychopathic Records family has been in a league of their own since day one. The point of the song seems to be that mainstream zombies tend to latch on to the hot new act and follow them blindly even if they’re not that talented, whereas Dark Lotus and the individual members therein transcend all that and constantly stay ahead of the pack, a sentiment that definitely has a measure of truth in it.

On Black Rain, songs like “The Walls” displayed their ability to write memorable, effective melodic choruses. While they fumble the ball a little on this release (the ‘la-la-la’s’ in “Hot Poison” take away from an otherwise banging Dark Lotus anthem, and the chorus in “Witch Trapped…” is pretty hokey), repeat listens will confirm that they still have the knack. “Heinous,” for example, has a surprisingly uncharacteristic chorus that actually works really well.

The only time they really go off the rails is on “Withered,” the typical epic album finale that The Insane Clown Posse started producing in the 90s. While on past records the results have been very effective -- moving, even -- on this song the melody meanders, none of the participants seem to be completely in key when they sing and the arrangement isn’t really interesting enough to sustain its seven-minute duration.

Despite its faults, though, the album as a whole is sure to please both Juggalos and casual fans, and rest assured that it will grow on you with every listen. Newcomers to the psychopathic sound might not want to make this their introduction, but honestly, anyone looking for some unique new hip hop should step up and check it out.