Conscious hip-hop is arguably seeing more widespread attention than ever at the moment, as the popularity of megastars like JID and Kendrick Lamar continues to surge. Even outside of the limelight though, the genre is a thriving one— there are numerous injustices in the world that artists are keen to discuss, leading to many of the most visceral and honest hip-hop records out there. Even still, few albums are able to capture the pervading sense of apathy and despair that chokes the new Backxwash LP: embodying agony and helplessness via both its poignant lyrical themes and claustrophobic musical scoring, ‘Only Dust Remains’ is the soundtrack to a lost soul, and one of the most powerful records we’ve heard this year.

It’s remarkably easy to get lost in the diverse curation of sounds throughout ‘Only Dust Remains’— the album often feels like a nightmarish labyrinth, unafraid to use dissonance and harsh timbres to reinforce its bleak atmosphere. Opener ‘Black Lazarus’ exhibits a careful build across its five-minute runtime, beginning with an uneasy balance of rapped vocals against Brazilian folk samples and a brooding bass line: as the track develops, few ideas seem to be off the table as Backxwash incorporates melancholic strings, wistful woodwinds and pounding industrial drums, reflecting the track’s tale of a struggle against nihilism and isolation.

“As they pray for me

But ain't no anybody here saving me

And the only death I fear is painlessly

And I've made it out of clear agency”

‘Black Lazarus’ soaks itself in that despair, pairing devastating lyrical themes against raucous blasts of gospel choir and sorrowful notes of piano— we really could ask for no better anthem to self-loathing, giving us front-row seats to a brutal inner conflict between depression and guilt.

“Why the f*ck am I complaining here

When there's kids in Gaza with a missing father”

For as momentous and experimental as the track is though, ‘Black Lazarus’ is merely a sample of the extreme lengths Backxwash goes to throughout ‘Only Dust Remains’ to sell this near-apocalyptic atmosphere. The synths that often crop up throughout the record certainly fall in line with the trend of 80s revivalism, though they nonetheless feel particularly hollow and mournful as part of this record— the recurring melodies and swelling layers of ‘History Of Violence’ demonstrate just how emotive the keys can be, pairing excellently with the aggressive refrains of “never mention the victims or you're in league.” There’s also the ethereal guitars that soar above ‘Stairway To Heaven,’ which act as a wonderful callback to the Led Zeppelin classic, and as a delightful tone-setter for one of the less intense moments on the album. ‘Only Dust Remains’ somehow manages to have its cake and eat it too, retaining a unique and distinct sound palate while blowing past any instrumental limitations.

This eclectic mix of sounds serves a collection of tunes ranging from claustrophobic torture chambers to cathartic moments of relief— Backxwash barrels through a range of well-realised emotions here, though that sense of impending doom is never fully escaped. Seven-minute epic ‘Wake Up’ is positively overflowing with energy, pairing Mutinta’s impassioned vocal delivery with a furious collection of percussion and samples. Despite the general chaos, the arrangement manages to salvage just enough harmonic wonder to set up the song’s gospel-infused beat switch: it’s an uneasy calm, contrasting a gentle soundscape with yet more confessions of self-loathing and a desire to do more with one’s life.

“Can't shake the feeling I'm gross

Can't find me appealing at all

I know my loved ones need me to be strong

But this atrophy is f*cking up my knees and my bones”

Other moments of the record feel almost uplifting, or even angelic in their arrangements— interlude ‘9th Gate’ floats via its reversed samples and spacey keys patches, flowing beautifully into the equally weightless ‘9th Heaven.’ These brighter tones only manage to reinforce the horror at the album’s core though, as Backxwash continually romanticises death in the face of an uncaring world.

“Life is only fragile as your battles

So you can ask Adam why he chose the apple

For real, I see the beauty in the luminescence

It's where I should be”

‘Undesirable’ indulges in a similar trick, building itself from a collection of minimalist drum parts and warm melodic hooks: though the album steeps in despair and agony constantly, the mood never grows particularly overbearing or exhausting as Backxwash continues to switch up the instrumental palate time and time again.

Truly, there is very little hope to be found throughout ‘Only Dust Remains,’ especially when the record’s focus pans between introspective musings and global injustices— even a lighter moment like ‘Disassociation’ sours as the song begins to detail struggles with addiction and substance abuse. Even still, the record manages to reach some kind of catharsis by the end: it’s a grim kind of acceptance, but the mood is nonetheless an incredibly satisfying one for the listener. As the closing title track wraps up many of the record’s themes into a single bittersweet message (over yet another gorgeous instrumental), Backxwash closes the book on one of the most visceral and heartfelt conscious hip-hop records we’ve had the pleasure of sinking into.

“And I know I don't know god in his presence

He never tried to call my bluff when I went there

But if I'm in a bad place going to a backspace

Happy that I met you all, as I meant it”

‘Only Dust Remains’ sets itself apart from the majority of its hip-hop contemporaries: the record seems to have little interest in intricate flows or impressive beat switches, and it’s undeniably to the album’s benefit. Backxwash’s latest release commits fully to its bleak, dystopian identity, exploring themes of mental health, nihilism, meaning and death in poignant ways that are impossible to ignore. The album is just as comfortable immersing you in its sorrowful atmosphere as it is being picked apart for every lyrical nuance and instrumental flourish— it’s a record that hurts to listen to, and it’s a masterpiece.

“Do not fear the void

It is not your enemy

Neither is it your friend”