Review FEVER 333 “Darker White”

Contemporary when it comes to music and confronting when it comes to lyrics – that’s Fever 333. Blending hardcore, punk rock and hip-hop results in an explosive sound that unfolds even more powerfully in live shows than on record, as we could witness during the recent tour Fever 333 embarked on as support act for Enter Shikari earlier this year.

The band formed in 2017 and released their first EP, “Made An America,” in 2018. After the release of the debut album, it took the band a while to finish work on the sophomore album. The wait is finally over as Fever 333 is ready to release their new album “Darker White”.

Jason Aalon, Thomas Pridgen, April Kae and Brandon Davi recorded 14 tracks for the album, starting with “New West Order”. The massive opener kicks off with a heavy pounding beat, and while “New West Order” focuses more on hip-hop, the band’s musical expression is framed by the raging “Higher Power”. Massive riffing and furious shouting are the basic elements of this aggressive track, which is reminiscent of bands like Rage Against The Machine.

The full spectrum of Fever 333’s musical range is reflected in the oppressive “Bull & A Bullet,” which has a very special vibe. What the first three songs reflect is that “Darker White” is a very intense album that will grab you from the first time you hear these songs and at the same time take a while to show its full potential.

The more punk rock based influences come to the fore during “No Hostages” while the slower “Murderer” comes with a dystopian flair. The chorus is more melodic which creates a nice tension. “Nosebleed” is a stomping hip hop song with a very addictive chorus and “Negligence” is its musical counterpart being a powerful tune that deals with social injustice in its lyrics.

Speaking of lyrics, Fever 333 write songs about justice and social struggle, politically charged and holding up a mirror to people.

They do it with songs that show a real crossover character as the album is very versatile. The latter makes it easy for the listener to easily navigate through these 14 tracks.

Fever 333 don’t reinvent crossover. Bands like the aforementioned Rage Against The Machine have certainly provided a blueprint, while Fever 333 have found their own niche in this type of music. “Darker White” is an album and a statement. The band clearly takes a stand when it comes to the struggles of everyday life based on environment and social construction. Everyone can relate to at least some of the lyrics, and it’s the music that reinforces the message.