New Artist Spotlight: Eclipseye’s Stark Political Message Hits With a ‘Whap Clatter’ [Video]

Many musical artists these days draw back from political stances, both for concern of wounding their careers or just for the truth that they see their jobs as a crucial distraction from the despair and discourse that may include critical points. With 2022 bringing conflict through Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, there was an preliminary outpouring of assist for Ukraine with artist contributing to a great deal of charity albums and exhibits, because the conflict has rolled on and the repercussions of talking out have made themselves clear (particularly for Russian artists), as soon as once more, the music group goes a bit quiet on this essential political concern.

Eclipseye, a Russian-born rapper now based mostly within the UK, appears to be taking the other take together with his first two singles beneath this moniker, “Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” and the notably Russia-aimed “Whap Clatter.” Having begun his profession in 2016 through a poetry espresso store occasion, Eclipseye determined early on that he needed to be a champion for essential world causes, proudly labeling himself a “woke-influencer” even amidst the current derisive sentiments in opposition to the time period “woke.” Where different artists draw back from making political statements, Eclipseye is all about talking up, even when individuals don’t prefer it.

With its very first traces, Eclipseye’s first observe “Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” in regards to the pratfalls of Brexit and the UK authorities’s mishandling (in his opinion) of COVID, exhibits that he doesn’t plan to drag any punches in the case of talking his thoughts. After a information pattern in regards to the polarizing nature of the UK’s plan to depart the EU, Eclipseye’s first phrases are “Brexit, Brexit – eurikas text it’ you need grass I’ll eat your Brexit for breakfast; Cause Tesco’s got nothing on the shelves for us.” It solely will get extra stark from there, and “Hymn” has now turn out to be one thing of an anthem for anti-Brexit sentiment, garnering Eclipseye practically a hundred thousand streams on Spotify and tons of of 1000’s over all of the platforms on which it’s listed, all for the reason that finish of August. Perhaps it isn’t so dangerous career-wise to place one’s opinion on the market.

In an eerie little bit of fortune-telling that artists appear to have a knack for, Eclipseye wrote his sophomore single “Whap Clatter” a few months earlier than Putin’s Russian forces invaded the borders of Ukraine. Released only recently on October 31 with its corresponding Ukrainian-directed and equally heavy-handed video, “Whap Clatter” Full of visceral photographs of the horrors of conflict. Told by means of each metaphorical and generally graphic literal imagery and spit in each English and Russian, whereas Eclipseye by no means mentions that the observe is directed at Russia, it’s definitely closely implied. The incontrovertible fact that he’s donating 10% of the proceeds in direction of reduction efforts in Ukraine makes it crystal clear.

Stylistically, audiences ought to go in realizing that it’s not solely his content material that makes Eclipseye distinctive. While he’s tagged his fashion as “rap metal,” amongst different issues, that will conjure ideas of Limp Bizkit, and that’s most definitely not what we’re speaking about right here. The underused time period “doom rap: might be a better descriptor; there’s certainly an element of metal in the way Eclipseye delivers his vocals, with low growls and a timbre so deep it could be called sub bass in some places. The music in both tracks, however, are devoid of shredding guitars and double kicks. A solid, minimal beat carries each track, with “Hymn” having a extra conventional hip hop vibe backed by eerie ambient sound design. “Whap Clatter,” within the meantime, sounds extra tribal and has a ravey construction in its intro and breaks, with massive gaps within the beat to showcase the gothic-style vocal samples. Metal-tinged doom rap? A bit wordy, however this may very well be a affordable abstract for Eclipseye’s fashion.

With the video for “Whap Clatter” being simply as intense because the observe that impressed it, it could seem that Eclipseye intends to remain on this path of stark storytelling, haunting music and daring political statements. With such robust stylistic selections in addition to a robust message, it appears like Eclipseye will serve to entertain his audiences in addition to reaching his bigger aim of rallying individuals in direction of motion and alter. Whether you like his distinctive doom/goth/metallic/hip hop fashion or his political therapeutic massage, Eclipseye is one to look at as he releases extra of his purposeful work.

“Hymn of Hypocrisy (Rap Comedy)” and “Whap Clatter” are each out now and could be streamed on Spotify. Check out Eclipseye’s YouTube channel to see the video for “Hymn of Hypocrisy.”