Kid Bookie – Mass Hysteria (EP)
Release Date: 7th October 2022
Label: Marshall Records
Genre: Nu-Metal, Grime, Alt-Rock.
FFO: Dropout Kings, Yavid, Notions.
Review By: Ryan Payne
Kid Bookie is a name that most people would have heard by now, and if you haven’t, you will soon. His new EP “Mass Hysteria” takes both grime and metal to create a nu-metal concoction that is fresh to the ears and will take fans by storm. The South-Londoner has been releasing music since 2015 and has worked with many elite artists in the metal scene, from grime-djent pioneers Hacktivist to the godfather of metal himself, Corey Taylor.
We kick off this EP with a build-up intro track that sets the mood with atmospheric synths, topped with pre-recorded dialogue to get fans excited about what’s coming up. We then kick into the next track and one of the singles from the EP, “The Game”, featuring Corey Taylor from Slipknot. This isn’t the first time the pairing has collaborated together, so it’ll definitely get people excited to see what they’ll cook up together. The track has a very trap feel to it with loads metal elements thrown into the mix, such as the screaming through the hook, and CT’s devastatingly heavy verse that is definitely a huge stand-out point of the track. It also features some a fun singing melody on the 2nd half of each hook which will definitely get stuck into listeners’ heads.
“Let It Ring” ft Ziey Kizzy is the latest single from the EP and probably a personal favourite of mine. The track kicks in with a simplistic thumping riff that could easily get a crowd moving, followed by an impressive rap first. The chorus on this song feels like a kick straight back to the good ole days when nu-metal was thriving, mixed with a modern twist, really made this amazing to hear. The next track “All The Same” is a more rap driven song, coming hard with the rap verses over the 808’s before delivering another chorus that could get any crowd moving. The combination between metal and rap through this EP is expertly done and not so obvious as past bands have taken the same approach.
“Here We Go” comes in with a lovely groovy riff, almost reminiscent of early Deftones, followed by some of the fastest rap verses heard on the entire EP. The chorus again is a guitar driven anthem that will easily be heard sung in the masses at shows or festivals. Title track “Mass Hysteria” feels like a more nu-metal approach to a rap song, like a love child between Limp Bizkit and Korn. We end off the EP with “Say A Word” which acts as the hip hop ballad of on the record. The majority of the song consists of synths and 808’s over a clean guitar riff, with Kid Bookie, a very emotional hook section and rap verses that feel like they have a bit more depth behind the words. The track ends with a full band, bringing a big finish to a very promising EP.
Kid Bookie is definitely going in the right direction to get noticed by some big names. While the tracks on this record may have been attempted before by other bands, they are truly refreshing, and have mastered the combination of rap and metal. KB didn’t want to be put into either a Rap box or Metal box and I think it’s safe to say that with “Mass Hysteria”, he’s definitely going to be a big part of both communities and could potentially see doors open for future artists like this. Kid Bookie is the new age and I can’t wait to hear more of it. 
(4 / 5)
