AWmusic

I think that it’s worth trying to explain what kind of music they make, although it’s surely more than the sum of its parts. For starters, Zack’s rapping is less forceful than it is in RATM. It fits the music well, seeing as how the music is as much electronica as it is hip hop, in my opinion. There are few obvious instrumental hooks, but the songs are interesting enough backdrops for the vocals.

While the flow is less aggressive than you might expect, it is soulful, and the rhythm and timing are great. This makes the songs pretty accessible, as do the lyrics. They’re very confrontational, needless to say, but I find an ever present sense of optimism even when Zack is describing negative situations. I get a sense of “This is messed up, but at least we recognize that,” sort of point of view. I always liked the phrase that the band took their name from, and it might give a good idea as to their mission statement: “It’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb.”

I admit that I’d be thrilled to buy a CD that features Zack de la Rocha whispering lyrics while someone beats a trashcan. This is a lot better than that would be—although who can say for sure how great that would be? Zack’s ideas are as relevant as ever, and I think that it’s great news that he’s back recording again. But One Day As A Lion is not a Rage copy—not even close. It should appeal to anyone into experimental/alternative forms of hip hop and rock, and it should definitely satisfy anyone who was into Rage Against The Machine for more than just the headbanging and creative guitar playing. It was revealed fairly recently that ODAAL plan to put out a full length album and then tour, and I can’t wait.

Wild International by One Day As A Lion

Buy this
EP