Track Review: BUZZCUT

The thunderous BROCKHAMPTON returns after their "longest" break since their 2016 debut. Aside from a 2020 remix single, BROCKHAMPTON has not released any new music since 2019, which, given their run of 6 LPs in 3 years, feels like a lifetime for the boy group.

Given the more monotone music from their last album, BUZZCUT sets forth with a mission to remind us all just how versatile BH can be. A shuffle beat introduces the bombastic SATURATION style production, in which Kevin Abstract combats a one two verse against the recruited Danny Brown, both proving equally loud and noteworthy bars. But the real highlight of the song comes through the masterful production. Fusing a muted siren sample with harsh bass kicks, before floating into a more atmospheric second half/outro which strips away everything from the first half and introduces, of all things, a saxophone. Compared to nearly any song from SATURATION 1, it's a concentrated showcase of how much BH has matured in 5 short years.

Indeed, it's a powerful return for the group, boosting with more confidence and a look-me-in-the-eyes attitude than they've shown in recent years. It's now been officially confirmed that BUZZCUT is the lead single off of a forthcoming new album, ROADRUNNER, set to be released at the beginning of April. And while it certainly wasn't required to do so, BUZZCUT has only elevated my anticipation.