• Consequence
  • Music
  • Film
  • TV
  • Heavy
Menu Consequence
Menu Shop Search Newsletter
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Live
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Contest
Advertisement
  • Reviews
  • Album Reviews

Album Review: Doomtree – No Kings

B

Artists

  • Cecil Otter
  • Dessa
  • Doomtree
  • Lazerbeak
  • Mike Mictlan
  • P.O.S.
  • Paper Tiger
  • Sims
Advertisement
Alex Young
December 7, 2011 | 7:59am ET

    Who is Doomtree? The simplest answer – that it’s currently P.O.S., Sims, Dessa, Mike Mictlan, Cecil Otter, Paper Tiger, and Lazerbeak all brought together – isn’t the best answer. Certainly each of them, after a few years of producing some excellent solo work (P.O.S.’s Never Better was a particular highlight), has brought ideas to No Kings, and that makes No Kings an album by Doomtree. But if Doomtree is a collective of personalities who are forging careers in their own right, then how should we characterize their music as a whole?

    The most obvious contrasts could be made between vocal styles. On “Bolt Cutter”, P.O.S. keeps his hook simple and percussive, almost mouthing the beat at the start of each bar; whereas Sims stays open and Dessa sort of half-sings. But there’s a great deal more to consider musically than what may be apparent on the first few listens. After all, Doomtree is a collective of diverging personalities, though one that comes together and understands what it is to be Doomtree. There are certain recurring tropes: freneticism, dirty guitars, masculine beats.

    Yes, you could pick out the varying vocal styles (i.e. Mike Mictlan’s chants on “Bangarang” as opposed to his rattling performance on “Own Yours”) and forget the diverse colors of the music that underpins it. Only that would undermine the performance of the collective as musicians and producers in favor of their position as MCs. The beautiful, jangling minor chords that open “String Theory”, the fanfare that begins “Team the Best Team”, the opening drumroll and angular chords of “Punch-Out”, the poignant, solitary piano that cuts softly into “Bolt Cutter” from nowhere; these are all gorgeous musical moments.

    Advertisement
    Related Video

    No Kings, the second time Doomtree has stepped out for an all-crew release, is a triumph of musicianship. Where the album might have the potential to break under the weight of increasingly big names, it’s cohesive and impressive. And that’s true whether they’re rapping, playing, or producing. “All these rappers sound the same. Beats? Sound the same. Raps? Sound the same,” extols Mictlan on “Bangarang”, but not here.

    Essential Tracks: “Boltcutter”, “String Theory”, and “Own Yours”

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
Advertisement

Artists

  • Cecil Otter
  • Dessa
  • Doomtree
  • Lazerbeak
  • Mike Mictlan
  • P.O.S.
  • Paper Tiger
  • Sims

Sign up for updates

Subscribe to our email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.

Advertisement

Popular Stories

Latest Stories

Advertisement

News

  • Music
  • New Music
  • Album Streams
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Tours
  • Film
  • TV
  • Pop Culture

Reviews

  • Music Reviews
  • Film Reviews
  • TV Reviews
  • Concert Reviews
  • Festival Reviews

Features

  • Editorials
  • Interviews
  • Cover Stories
  • Lists
  • Guides
  • CoSign
  • Song of the Week

Live

  • Tickets
  • Festival News
  • Tour Dates
  • Photo Galleries
  • Music Instruments & Gear

Heavy

  • News
  • Interviews
  • Concerts

More

  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Wellness
  • Giveaways

Other sites

  • Heavy Consequence
  • Consequence Media
  • Modern Drummer
  • About
  • Privacy policy
  • Advertising
  • Work For Us
  • Terms
  • Contact
  • Copyright
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Download our app

  • Get it on the App Store
  • Get it on Google Play
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitch
  • Tiktok
Consequence
Current story

Album Review: Doomtree - No Kings

Menu Shop Search Newsletter
Consequence
News
  • News
  • Music
  • New Music
  • Album Streams
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Tours
  • Film
  • TV
  • Pop Culture
Reviews
  • Music Reviews
  • Film Reviews
  • TV Reviews
  • Concert Reviews
  • Festival Reviews
Features
  • All Features
  • Editorials
  • Interviews
  • Cover Stories
  • Lists
  • Guides
  • CoSign
  • Song of the Week
Live
  • Tickets
  • Festival News
  • Tour Dates
  • Photo Galleries
  • Music Instruments & Gear
Podcasts
  • The Opus
  • Kyle Meredith With...
  • Stanning BTS
  • The Story Behind the Song
  • The What
  • Going There with Dr. Mike
  • The Rome and Duddy Show
Videos
  • Interviews
  • Two for the Road
  • First Time I Heard
  • When I Made
  • Battle of the Bandmates
  • Peer 2 Peer
  • Essays
  • Fan Theories
Heavy
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Concerts
  • Premieres
  • Culture
  • Beyond the Boys Club
  • Mining Metal
Shop
  • Shop
  • Giveaways

Follow Consequence

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitch
  • Tiktok
Close
Close