ALLA XUL ELU & SUPER FAMOUS FUN TIME GUYS: Lost Lake Estates

Release year: 2023
Label: Long Live Evil

It would appear that US horrorcore trio Alla Xul Elu have lately been doubling down on their own label Long Live Evil. A couple of things on this, their latest album, strongly indicate this. For one, it is the first Long Live Evil release to feature a catalogue number: LLE-001; previous releases have been without one. Secondly, the booklet teases several upcoming releases, including Alla Xul Elu’s Gods Of Evil Rise – one can only assume on LLE. The trio have been on Twiztid’s Majik Ninja Entertainment label since 2018… but perhaps the time is now to go at it on their own?

Although they’re not exactly going at it alone on this album. The masked menagerie are joined by Super Famous Fun Time Guys, a luchador mask clad duo who’ve released their last two albums via Long Live Evil. I suppose this can be seen as another indication of increased focus on Long Live Evil: creating a stronger label identity with collaborating artists.

Despite being a collaborative release, this primarily sounds like an Alla Xul Elu album to me. The mood is dark, sinister and dripping of classic horror movies in a very Alla Xul Elu kind of way. The sinister, understated and even minimalistic beats remind me strongly of earlier Alla Xul Elu. Think The Almighty and the two preceeding albums. Aesthetically, too, the package is a better fit for Alla Xul Elu’s dark image than Super Famous Fun Time Guys’ gruesomely colorful image. (It’s worth noting that the cover art is done by 8 Legz of the latter.)

In other words, those familiar with Alla Xul Elu’s earlier output will not find it too hard to orient themselves in the halls of this estate. Comparing to, for example, Mauxuleum (reviewed here) or Necronomichron 2 (reviewed here), the beats are considerably more stripped down, but the essential spirit of grimy horror is there. Where the last few albums had a bit more fleshed out, musical beats, Lost Lakes Estates sees the terrible trio and their compatriots return to a more old school expression: the beats focus heavily on percussion and rhythm, less on melody or musicality.

For me, at least, this resulted in an album that’s a grower, not a shower. During the first listen, I was even a bit underwhelmed. However, a few more listens, and two things happened: first, the lyrics started to get through my thick skull, and secondly, I got to grips with the more straightforward musical approach.

Lyrically, this album is surprisingly dark. The pitch-black humour, a trademark quality for both acts involved, remains, but there’s a lot of pretty gritty lyrical content here. There are also a lot of fun references to earlier material; it’s quite rewarding for a weathered Alla Xul Elu fan to spot nods to classic tracks. (I’m not that familiar with Super Famous Fun Time Guys’ discography, so I can’t really say how many references to it are included on the album.)

The more minimalist approach to the beats puts more emphasis on the vocals, which ultimately works for the benefit of a collaborative album such as this. It gives space for each of the in total five rappers to present their distinct style. And, luckily, none of the five are cut from the same cloth. This guarantees variation on the tracks, although one could perhaps have hoped for a bit more interplay and line trading; as it is, the emphasis is primarily on each doing an entire verse.

The rather lengthy album – about 70 minutes – contains several highlights. The video track Rhyme Asylum is one of these; a rather typical heavy-handed, mid-tempo Alla Xul Elu romp. Even better is Anthem; with its “Long Live Evil!” shouts aplenty, obviously meant to be, well, anthemic. And it’s not far off. However, my favourite is the title track, with a groovy beat that sounds like it could be the title tune for some horror TV show. And there are many more: Midian, referencing Clive Barker’s novella Cabal and the movie version Nightbreed; Hang In There, taking a somber look at mental illness; and Pour Another, a track relatable to anyone who likes to get their drink game on from time to time.

To repeat what I wrote above, the album is a bit of a grower. It might take a listen or two, but there is plenty of good stuff to unearth on here. And even though not all tracks are classics-to-be, there isn’t much in the way of obvious filler material here, either.

As such, the bottom line? Ever since The Almighty in 2018, Alla Xul Elu have release by release solidified their position as the best horrorcore currently has to offer. This album continues to solidify their position in the artistic if not commercial forefront of the genre. And as a label centric collaboration, it helps solidify and push forward Long Live Evil’s identity. Fans of Alla Xul Elu, Super Famous Fun Time Guys or horrorcore in general will not be disappointed by this.

Visit Alla Xul Elu’s official website or Facebook
Visit Super Famous Fun Time Guys’ official website or Facebook
Visit Long Live Evil’s website