Released: 2012

Genres: Industrial Hip-Hop, Hardcore Hip-Hop, Experimental Hip-Hop, Glitch Hop

The Musiquarium’s No Love Deep Web Review Score: 9 out of 10

It wasn’t enough to drop a legendary mixtape and then a groundbreaking debut album in the span of a year, so Death Grips decided to up the ante and release their sophomore album only six months after The Money Store, even if it meant being dropped by their label. Epic Records wanted the band to wait, but the band did the punk thing and leaked it themselves, which resulted in the breaking of their contract and being booted from their label. Such a move would be considered career suicide for many, but for Death Grips, it was all just part of the plan.

The production style on No Love Deep Web is noticeably different from The Money Store, being somewhat more raw and aggressive, with an infusion of the spirit of heavy metal and punk.

The hostile Come Up and Get Me makes most rap sound like children’s music. Lil Boy is dynamic, always keeping the listener guessing what’s next. No Love sounds as evil and doomy as something from a band like Black Sabbath, but without the use of any guitars. Black Dice and Whammy are somewhat reminiscent of The Money Store.

Bass Rattle Stars Out the Sky and World of Dogs have this kind of amphetamine-induced punk energy to them. Lock Your Doors has a menacing instrumental. Hunger Games and Stockton are percussion-heavy bangers. Deep Web continues the doom of the title track. Pop features shimmering, celestial synths. Artificial Death in the West ends the album with the most (relatively) chilled-back song on the album.

No Love Deep Web will probably always be overshadowed by its two immediate predecessors and the uncensored artwork will probably dissuade many listeners, but this is still as essential as The Money Store or Exmilitary.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Death Grips on Discogs.

Back to the 2012 Album Guide or the Death Grips Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard