The Portland-based musician and Red Mirror member starts off the year strong
Although accusations of appropriating metal culture are certainly founded within some corners of SoundCloud, none can be applied to Portland-based producer and vocalist King Yosef. After performing in metalcore and hardcore bands across the Northwest, he diversified his talents by immersing himself in production, eventually working with Ski Mask the Slump God, Alice Glass, Zheani, and others. While the melding of these two worlds has become increasingly popular, King Yosef’s ethos has remained distinct by developing stylistic inspiration from death metal — an arena of heavy music that has never taken too kindly to skin-tight jeans or high-pitched shrieks. While death metal fans may prove fickle when it comes to accepting adulterated rewritings of the classics, King Yosef’s vocal integrity has the makings of an irresistibly gripping live set, whether he be performing in front of a drumset or a DJ.
After his 2018 album GUILTY. and a slew of caustic singles, King Yosef is starting the year strong with “Pity Case.” While the vocalist’s death metal and hardcore roots can be easily detected in the track, it manages to transcend the cliches of the subgenres’ bastard son, deathcore. The robust qualities of both styles are preserved and asserted in their own right where appropriate. Punches of staccato bellows go on to be sustained by immense power rivaling the demonic depths of Deicide or Morbid Angel. In lieu of a standard trap beat, King Yosef carefully interweaves an industrial soundscape that accompanies his vocals with a satisfying smack. The distorted silhouettes displayed in “Pity Case”’s visual make for a canvas to which listeners can ascribe their own connotations, further tapping into the artist’s potential for accessibility.
While it is hard enough to master one musical sphere let alone two, King Yosef successfully presents an alluring kingdom for all to enter. Watch the video for “Pity Case” below.