Album/EP

Kublai Khan TX - Exhibition of Prowess (Album Review)

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Sep 24, 2024

7 min read

Kublai Khan TX - Exhibition of Prowess
Released: September 20, 2024

Lineup

Matt Honeycutt // Vocals
Nolan Ashley // Guitar, Vocals
Eric English // Bass, Vocals
Isaac Lamb // Drums

Online

Facebook
Instagram
Website

Only days after their explosive Australian tour (our Brisbane review here), Texan hardcore kings Kublai Khan TX have released their meaty new offering to the world in the form of Exhibition Of Prowess. Much to the namesake, the album sees itself circling through the fundamental pillars of what makes the band who they are; hard, overbearing, and intimidating. At times, there are also moments where this prowess becomes more intricate, intertwining creative collaborations and signature styles that ooze individuality. Exhibition Of Prowess is sure to be a talking point for many this release week!

Kublai Khan’s expressive exhibition opens with a proclamation of self in the form of ‘Supreme Ruler’. A stern voice enters, elucidating that the word Khan in the English language means King- a sentiment swiftly cut off by a growling Matt Honeycutt and intrusively chugging guitars. Through its short duration, there is an assertion of the band’s relentless vigor, brutal attitude, and self-backed confidence that shines both on and off stage.

It is in these key pillars of the band that often an internal battle is seen, with Khan’s virality, at times, putting blemishes on their rugged and jarring outward persona. There is no better example of this than in their viral sensation, ‘Theory Of Mind’, a track finding its home within the middle of this album. It is undeniable that the song made waves, pushing hardcore to the forefront and exposing it to a whole new audience. To date, the offering remains pivotal to Kublai’s discography. Opening with a jarring question of identity and morals, the pressure continues as the song traces through the anger and pain of letting go and love running its course. Through Matt’s gravelly yet also earnest tone, the song has dominated the past year, and remains an exemplar from this album. Yet, the longer its streak continues, the more its value diminishes, with hardcore adjacent fans aiming to separate themselves from the now mainstream anthem.

Regardless of this notion, tracks like ‘Theory Of Mind’, and the following single, ‘Low Tech’, are an impressive showcase of the Texans’ universality and enticement, whilst still remaining rough, unpolished, and unexpected.

If there is something that Kublai Khan never ceases to produce, it is a flair that comes through palpable energy in many of their recordings. This perhaps reached its highest form within ‘Darwinism’. Opening with loud and swift drums and swirling guitar, it is one of those moments in which you find yourself being subconsciously influenced by the prominence of the instrumentals; a shaking leg, a tapping foot, and a nodding head. Already all-consuming, Honeycutt charges in with an explicit and direct call to arms (and heads). With a two-step worthy drum performance being the pinnacle of this track, it comes to light how much strength Kublai’s instrumentals house in fostering the dynamics and foundations of this album, and adding the flair that becomes quintessential at the bands' live shows.

At times, Exhibition Of Prowess also becomes a gathering of mixed spirits and joint creative styles, with two of the tracks containing features from other essential vocalists. ‘Cannibal’ features Dave Peters of Throwdown, and as the name suggests, it is a gruesome and feral annihilation. Peter’s vocals mutilate and slice through the already stiff tension made by Honeycutt, but instead, offer up his higher and signature grotesque-sounding vocals as a fresh offering to an album that, at times, feels just a little too draped in the same tone.

The second feature is found towards the later end of the album, featuring Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed and Kingdom of Sorrow for the anthem that is ‘A Hopeless Fate’. The song offers no room to breathe, with the vocals storming through the very first seconds, and remaining relentless and unwavering for the duration to follow. Even in the more subdued moments, echoing and spiraling background vocals creep their way into earshot. Once again, there is a glorious diversity to be found when Jasta’s voice flurries the performance, adding another sharp and redefined layer to the body of work. ‘A Hopeless Fate’ rekindles the spark found within Kublai’s tantalizing instrumentals, seeing the track descend into a hellish and visceral soundscape- the guitars leading this charge. Deep and low, this intoxicating bass seeps right through you, penetrating into the gruesome and moody cellar.

It is in both these features in which Exhibition of Prowess sharpens its horns and diversifies itself from the signature snarls that drive Kublai Khan TX’s mass appeal. For me, they create moments that separate themselves, and through the additional guests, seem to have given the home team a reason to fight harder and prove themselves among their fellow peers.

There are also key moments in which the album tonally shifts, like in ‘X’, which is a quick gift, both duration-wise and sound-wise. This little snippet is energized and fast-paced, and takes a moment away from the deep chugs and low tones found around many corners of the Kublai maze.

Exhibition Of Prowess concludes with the song everyone was waiting for with baited breath, ‘Antpile 2’. Its predecessor, ‘Antpile’, has become a cult classic within the hardcore scene for its simple line delivery but chaotic instrumentals. A simple utterance of the word “two” sees the sequel ignite into a similar chaos. Whirring guitars create a twister of sound, clashing with the thick drums that lie below. It is a minute of rawness fuelled by a need to display aggression, passion, and musical power in its simplest and clearest form. And the gag of many people waiting until midnight for this track to drop, only for it to scream two was enough to leave me chuckling.

In all, Exhibition Of Prowess is a solid offering from the fearsome unit. While the album has seen milestones met in various ways, and the band’s trajectory shift into unprecedented waters, it still feels like it could use something more. Whether that be variance or nuance, what Kublai Khan TX still offers us in this body of work is an impact that will continue to reign over the perception of hardcore through a handful of unmissable moments from within.