from hip hop to jazz, from jazz to metal, from metal to punk, from punk to noisecore, from noisecore back to hip hop
Dälek has rightfully gained iconic status as one of the finest alt-hip hop bands of our time. Until recently ”resolutely underground”, Dälek methodically undermines every idiotic idiom perpetuated by mainstream rap, choosing instead to blend assaultingly hypnotic rhymes with a corrosively atmospheric, electronica-inflected hard rock sensibility. Combine all this with an undeniable lyrical intelligence and absolutely no illusions about the world we live in and you've got a duo that effortlessly embraces genres from hip hop to jazz, from jazz to metal, from metal to punk, from punk to noisecore, from noisecore back to hip hop. Think My Bloody Valentine %2B Tool %2B early Wu Tang combined with Massive Attack and Aphex Twin and you only begin to wrap your brain around what Dälek has unleashed with each album release, each collaboration, each remix…
Dälek's first release, NEGRO NECRO NEKROS (Gern Blandsten 1998) was released to overwhelming critical acclaim, artfully combining elements of Faust, the rock grit of The Velvet Underground, shoegaze-like density of Ride, and electronica beats with incisively lyrical social commentary. Dälek's second album, FROM THE FILTHY TONGUE OF GODS AND GRIOTS (Ipecac Recordings 2002) established them firmly alongside hip-hop innovators such as the Antipop Consortium and cLOUDDEAD. Come 2004, Dälek released their dense and dread-filled album ABSENCE (Ipecac Recordings 2004), which brought them their broadest critical and public attention to date. Then, in early 2007, the band released what is perhaps their greatest work: the eloquent and brooding ABANDONED LANGUAGE (Ipecac Recordings 2007). Now released their GUTTER TACTICS (2009)
