Review: God Is War ‘Boogeyman Inc.’

For me, one of the benefits of writing about new releases is not the fact of getting hold of the latest music from bands you know and love, but also to discover new music and really stretch your musical horizons and knowledge. The latest release from God Is War, is no exception to this rule and with my love of industrial/electronic music being revived in recent months, I was intrigued as to what lurked inside.

Boogeyman Inc. is the solo endeavour of Lebanese American artist Mack Chami, who set out to compose a much more aggressive, bright, glitchy and colourful approach to noise and industrial music. Chami might not thank me for this, but the constant thought going through my head when I listen to this is DJ Shadow. It has that ambient feel running through the music, and there are times when you expect it to ramp up a few beats per minute, but then it’s not a dance album.

The rumbling, scratching sounds on the opening track I’m The One You Need To Be Worried About…You Remember That Motherfucker sends a shiver down my spine as I have this unnerving image of people being trapped underground. That chilling sound when you are trying to escape a shallow grave by digging out of a hole or tunnel after being put there by an evil murderer. Was this the intent? Only Chami can answer that as it’s challenging the concept of music and sets a pattern for what lies ahead. 

sends a shiver down my spine as I have this unnerving image of people being trapped underground…

Unlike You Pussy, I’ll Wish It On My Worst Enemy And Then Some gives off big evil Star Wars creature vibes from the deepest darkest depths of space and beyond, and then a repetitive beat takes charge, allowing other noises to be incorporated. It has a certain hip-hop feel to the track in parts, which I really like, but Chami allows it to run out of steam at the right time before he hits you with the next track With The Snap Of A Finger…Like As If You Were Never Fucking There. I’m sure there’s a poignant message for someone with that title, as seems to be the pattern with all the titles, but it drifts along and this is one track that I thought needed that extra pace.

The Opium Den has that mysterious underwater atmosphere pulsing away, almost as if you are in a small submarine searching for some sort of utopian land. With the title track Boogeyman Inc. bouncing around all over the place, and having a creepy opening, it’s darker and more sinister but what I love is that the songs don’t drag on unnecessarily.

Horriblis Maximus (Dedicated To Oso) is the sixth of seven tracks and takes me back to my rave days, albeit with a slower beat before finishing off with the wonderfully entitled I Remember You Told My Parents That I Was Going To Get Shot But When I Googled You, It Was Just You And Your Cute Little White College Friends, no way am I interpreting that one, but it’s on a similar vein to the rest. What is evident is this album will challenge people’s minds, and they will interpret the music in their own individual way.

Label: Profound Lore Records
Band Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Matthew Williams