KottenMouth Kings are a local OC band, that have a huge range of influence and they portray just what they are influenced by in their 12th studio album Long Live the Kings. Fans of KMK probably already own and know all the tracks, but for a general audience that are not familiar with KMK this might be an album to ease one onto their brand of rap rock.

Long Live the Kings, this track has a very heavy sound. It sounds very holy with bells, string instruments, and a very deep voice saying “Long Live the Kings.” Very quick raps and you can hear the vocals coming from all over the place, which keeps your ears perked. You think it will set the mood for the album by being the first track, but it does not have a lot of energy as you would expect for the opening track.

Party Monsters, starts with the robotic voice, I almost thought this was a techno/ dance track. And don’t get me wrong it is, but I will not rank it up with the sounds of Daft Punk or Justice. It offers a common beat that you can hear at the club on the top forty. Of course appropriate for the title of the track. The chorus, “we are party people, we are party monsters…” is something that one can easily sing along with at the club with drink in hand and feet on the dance floor. Tech N9ne is featured on the track adding a bit of a harsh sound than what you would usually find in a track like this.

Rampage, this song burst out with drums, and provides the hard rock sound with the rap over it that makes KMK so popular. This song does go keep a fast pace moving and has a catchy sound to it, that will make bros and football players pumped before “going on a rampage!”

Great When You’re High, the beat has a older sound mixed together with some new effects that are heard often. It has a catchy chorus that will unfortunately get stuck in your heard. They rap about the usual topic that appeal to everyone and states the obvious, “When you’re high, everything’s better, the sex, the food, the weather…”

Stomp, electric beats and drum rolls that are very common in any sort of club music. It can be considered good if you are into that sort of music or enjoy dancing to this music. The Boondocks fictional rapper does the song “Stomp em in the Nuts,” which sounds all too similar to this. The Boondocks try to make a mockery of this sort of music; KMK does a good job of creating new material that mocks itself.

Lucky Day, more of that rock samples that KMK is known to fuse with their music. It’s another catchy song that they combine with a pop rock song that would be able to get teeny boppers moving. It sounds very fun and appealing to a more tame audience. It also carries a more optimistic sound and happy outlook on life with a title like “Lucky Day.”

The transition takes a 360, we are brought to, At it Again. This song has very heavy beats and bringing us back to the usual topic of party type of music. With a repetitive chorus that can get stuck in your head with songs of nothingness saying that “wanna get high get loose…”

Make it Rain, another tune that has a nice beat that will work in the club scene and can easily get people moving if they are in the right setting that will want them to scandalously shake themselves. It has several chants in it that may tempt one to throw in their two cents for this track.

Party Girls is a track that stands out to me. It has a good use of a rock sample and pair it very well with their rap style vocals. Although the content may be a offensive to women who prefer to not be looked at as objects. The song almost has a surf rock sound underneath it all, and can potentially get some horny frat boys pumped when going on the hunt for “party girls.”

Mushrooms, can you guess what this song is about? Don’t worry in the first few seconds with a bad Middle Eastern impression psychedelic are quickly addressed. The beat is very Middle Eastern sounding, alongside with sitar samples on top of usual beats. This gives the track a little more a different sound and layers in comparison to their other tracks. They spit their lyrics fairly quickly on this track which is impressive, but the lyrics are predictable with a song about ‘shrooms.

Black Smoke, Once again we hear the heavy beats. This is topped with drowsy vocals and psychedelic samples. It sounds trippy and almost surreal with the use of overlapping vocals. The variety of vocals used keep this song from letting you doze off because of the repeating sound that’s given.

Fuck the Police, another topic that is touched upon any rapper. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t get old. This track features Insane Clown Posse; so it may have some credibility for those who are fans of them and adds some variety to it. I’m sure this song can quickly become a fan favorite and will be a highlight to see live with lines like; “Fuck the Police/ Man Lick These Nuts!”

Reefer Madness is an interesting song, and provides a change of pace in the album. It is a slower jam it gives the impression that it is a serious song dealing with real life issues. And don’t get me wrong because it does deal with an issue that concerns them, the legalization of weed. It sounds like a very passionate song, although they have no real political stance, it shows some sort of maturing sound in them versus the usual sort of topic you hear them rap.

Forget whatever relevant serious you sound from them in the previous track when Checkmate comes on. It has an on going horn and samples that can get annoying very quick. If that’s not enough the backing vocals, have nothing to say yet they are going on throughout the entire song. Making it very difficult to listen to what they are rapping over the siren not that its anything worth while.

Another 360 transition with, Kill the Pain. This track has an acoustic guitar, with easy drum set to carry you through the entire song. It’s a pretty chill track and one to relax and as KMK would have you do so have a fatty. This song is another favorite, its refreshing to hear this song emerging from them and this album, it may not be a popular track due to how far out there it is in comparison to the party music, but it is something that doesn’t hurt to have in the mix and chill with.

Mad Respect,. The acoustic guitar somehow takes you to a rock sound that they have, but they transition better then have been doing so. A record scratch indicates that the album is back in full spin with this track. Even though it has the rock sound that KMK is known for, they also add more electric samples finding this somewhere between hard rock and rap.

Lets Do Drugs, features Big B and it continues with KMK’s theme of drugs. “Lets do drugs” has a bit of a ska sound with horns and synthesizer which sounds different to other things on their album and is very fun and can be well appreciated by the rasta heads.

Let the Indo Blow, believe it or not… another similar song that seems like filler space for the album. It continues with the popular club sound. As I mentioned earlier it can work if you are into the club scene and enjoy dancing to that stuff, but as far as listening too I do not think it will suffice to other tracks on the album.

Take it to the Top, brings back again the poppy rock sound that was used earlier. It is very catchy rock sound, a little sugary then what you are used to. It makes you question if this is really KMK. Fans of the pop punk sounds would like it, but if you prefer the fast type of spitting that KMK does, then this will not satisfy.

The album comes to an end with an acoustic intro. This somehow becomes a good way to end the album Simple and Free has the nice reflective sound, shows maturity in them. Personally I like that they wrap up the chaos with this song, it may be a little cliché, but it provides a nice closing to the wide range of hectic sounds that KMK provides.
 
Overall the album goes everywhere; but that is who KMK is. Loyal fans of KMK this is a must to add to their collection. Very diverse, if into the range they provide, although this does not always provide to be a good formula. It has a lot more club style music versus their usual influence of reggae and punk/rock. Although the rock sounds are still there, it seems like this is KMK’s attempt to be recognized more in the club scene rather then be an underground favorite for their usual fan base of Gamers, Stoners, and Bros.