Album Review: A triumphant return for slowthai on second album Tyron

Tyron is not only the album you hoped slowthai would return with – it’s arguably the album he needed to make.

Following the release of his critically acclaimed 2018 album Nothing Great About Britain, the Northampton native was being pulled in every direction, playing riotous live shows, selling out tours and featuring on collaborations while causing occasional national headlines along the way.

Tyron is an album which shows two sides to slowthai - a first half will be somewhat familiar territory to fans but it’s the second half which sees the rapper heading lyrically and musically into areas which may surprise. Despite this, both ‘sides’ of Tyron feel quintessentially slowthai.

The singles which have preceded the record - Cancelled, Mazza, NHS and Feel Away perfectly demonstrate the record the rapper has carefully crafted.

Album openers, 45 Smoke then Cancelled are both a statement of intent and see slowthai in ferocious form, rapping over abrasive beats, angry, and out to take on critics – commenting on cancel culture.

The latter sees him again with Skepta at his side on a track the pair recently performed for Jimmy Fallon’s late night talk show.

Mazza further cements the impact slowthai is making in the US, teaming up with rap heavyweight A$AP Rocky on what will probably become one of the album’s biggest tracks.

Other highlights of the record’s first half include Dead, a slower paced track built around an infectious menacing piano loop and beats.

The transition between the two halves of Tyron isn’t as stark or jarring as you may think, but I Tried is the first real move into a more sonically ambitious world – in this case, a slower paced jam based around an infectious guitar riff – in which slowthai compares himself to football royalty in the line “Long road, took a tumble down this black hole, stuck in Sunday league but I’m on levels with Ronaldo.”

Continuing the second half of the record, Terms sees slowthai team up again with Denzel Curry with Dominic Fike also featuring on a track which sees the three trying to come to terms with the impact of fame.

Musically, much of the album weaves across the rap, grime, trap and pop genres which slowthai demonstrated on his debut, but with a sound which overall feels more influenced by his US contemporaries.

Tyron takes longer to digest than its predecessor. There’s nothing quite as commercially immediate as the likes of Doorman – with Mazza and Feel Away its most accessible moments.

Throughout Tyron, tracks are littered with fantastic lyrics, some about himself, some addressing mistakes, some talking about family and friendships.

“You can take away my time, you can’t take away my mind, my legend will live for eternity,” on Dead, “Fun and games till you’ve gotta take the blame” on ADHD and “Double N till the day I die” on 45 Smoke, are just a handful of lines from a record which is as fascinating lyrically as it is musically.

With a melancholic feel, Tyron is an album that takes listeners through a range of emotions and marks a triumphant return for slowthai.

Tyron is out now on streaming platforms and physical formats. Visit www.slowthai.com