Riviera Regime

In many cases and for the betterment of music overall, genre lines aren’t so confining anymore. Sure, there are elitists out there, not often welcome to “other” sorts into the mix. To each their own, but for most of the music-enjoying public – no single genre will suffice for all occasions and moods. That said, here’s a little nugget that deserves some recognition, particularly for those who prefer a razor sharp bite to their sonic palette. Riviera Regime is, for all intent and purpose, best described as very hardcore hip-hop. What’s that mean? Well, if heavy metal has a flip side, or evil rapping twin from another dimension – then this album fits the bill. Very powerful, gritty lyrics, uncommonly good beats and often-brutal imagery are balanced by select sampling and at times - some seriously deep thrashy guitar riffs. It’s no wonder… death rapper Necro (known for his talent infusing metallic touches to grace his own albums) welcomed the Riviera Regime the - duo of Benny Brahmz and Klee Magor - into his tight family. For this release, Necro joined his delightfully twisted production skills with Major’s for a compendium of street-wise thuggery and technically crafted moshpit-inciting potential. The common thread here is brutality. Whether the track is raucous and fast paced, or more leaning toward the smoother street corner flow, the design is consistently ‘in your face’. Real Soldierz Ride isn’t casual listening. Again, this is hardcore across the board. Equipped with guitar, “Checkmate” starts the mayhem that continues through twenty-five tracks. Other standout tracks include “Desperados” which features appearances by Necro and Skarhead frontman Danny Diablo, plus the grimy storytelling of “Golani Brigade” – these guys actually both served and fought together in that legendary unit of the Israeli army. Real Soldierz Ride also comes standard with an accompanying DVD packed with extra music, videos, and live appearance footage. Riviera Regime is not easy to classify, and that’s what makes the album, certainly their best yet, a must-hear underground gem.

www.rivieraregime.com