In the lead up to Kate Middleton’s childbirth, the UK and most of the western world, were on tender hooks after months of media attention on the “royal baby” and yet no more than a week after; it was forgotten about. Cannibal Ox had the potential to suffer the same fate as Charlotte Middleton. With an incomparably successful and pioneering first album Cold Vein, where critics drew comparisons between Cannibal Ox and the Wu Tang Clan, fourteen years later, the duo have a lot to live up to on their return with Blade of the Ronin.

 

Double AB, a member of the extended Cannibal Ox family, preceded Vast Aire and Vordul Mega, showing himself to be more than just a tag along hype man. A lyrically deft A cappella freestyle comparing the vast disparities in British and American culture, with just enough humor to capture the attention of the meek Tuesday evening audience, provided a humble and intelligent introduction to the night. His effervescent personality effortlessly jump started the crowd with ‘Lord knows what’ and its juxtaposing liquid, melodic rhyming over a heavy, almost static, beat which created a sound reminiscent of the legend, MC Eiht.

 

Seeing as Vast Aire and Vordul Mega are the principal members of Cannibal Ox, you would understandably expect a far greater volume of this review to be dedicated to their performance. However, there is very little good to say about the two. Vordul Mega looked as if he had been shooting a scene from Pineapple Express and was so stoned that he forgot the words to ‘Iron Galaxy’ not once, but twice. After pulling back the track and searching through his hazy, kush stained memory banks, he drew a blank. With a level of enthusiasm comparable to a sloth and flow, which just did not exist, he managed to drain all energy previously bought to the gig by fellow Ox member Double A.B.. Vast Aire presented himself in a similarly stoned manner, although he maintained flow and remembered his lyrics, he lacked punch and passion. It felt as if his lyrics were a distant memory, void of all emotion. Between the two of them, it was a captivatingly poor show; I was torn between sheer disappointment and amusement. I feel sorry for Double AB, who outshone his colleagues with ease and grace.

 

Unfortunately, the balloon of popularity, inflated by Cold Vein 14 years ago, has officially popped and this group will be forgotten the same way the royal baby was. The silver lining to this particularly catastrophic event was the poetic and passionate performance that came from Double A.B. An up and coming underground artist whom I cannot recommend more and look forward to seeing in the future.

Elliot Wright