If you know Death Grips by now, you probably think you know what to expect. In some ways, that's true—expecting the unexpected is still an expectation—but their latest is proof they're still capable of doing something new. Now, the Sacramento group delivered a new album during one of the busiest summers in recent music history, and this time around, they let everyone know it was coming.
Initially, it might seem that the most surprising part of Year of the Snitch, besides the collaboration with Oscar-winning Shrek director Andrew Adamson, is that we knew when it was coming out, but really it's the group's continued inventiveness that makes this an essential part of their discography. Wedged between the huge releases of June, the latest release from Death Grips harkens back to the group's earlier output, featuring a constantly shifting sound that refuses to settle.
Elements of their more punk-inflected album Bottomless Pit remain, but they're placed next to decidedly strange electronic experiments. It's not as accessible as The Money Store, but it's also not as bewildering as Government Plates. It's an exhilarating mix of old and new, acting as a brilliant reminder of what makes Death Grips one of the most fascinating groups out today.
