ALGIERS
Shook (Matador)
Fiercely powerful in its politics and daring with its experimentation, Shook is Algiers’ collaboration album. The ferocious Bite Back features contributions from rap-metal hybridists Backxwash, while Irreversible Damage sees Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against The Machine spitting lyrical animosity over detailed, industrial beats. Other guests include Billy Woods, Big Rube, and Nadah El Shazly, each of whom change the musical identity of the album, making for a demanding listen.
And yet, each performance is incredibly well-executed, while feeling like natural progressions from the intriguing soul-punk of Algiers’ past works. The band discussed being on the verge of disbanding before making this record, a struggle overcame by making a record firmly about their home city of Atlanta.
That’s the crux of this piece – years of touring shook the bands faith in their profession. Yet, rather than breaking, they found creativity in concepts of home, shared identity, and community resilience. In that sense, the album is as relatable as it is introspective and impassioned.
words ALEX SWIFT
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