Review

Hawema expertly blend metal and hip-hop on their latest self-titled EP

Young South Africans are angry, to the point where it feels like anger is just a part of our lives now, and what better way to address this than through music?

KZN-hailing punk-rock outfit Hawema’s new self-titled EP is an excellently crafted expression of rage, their sound a solid merging of hip-hop and groove metal. But this isn’t a Nu-metal cover band, it’s a fresh and focused approach to blending the two genres.

The lyrical content throughout the EP unpacks our social frustrations, maybe best encompassed by the idiosyncratic words of “Road Rage”. Rhymes are masterfully overlayed on top of groovy bass lines and slamming guitars, opening track “Arabix” showcasing an irresistibly dirty bassline.

“For The Pain” on the other hand offers a particularly interesting style of drumming met by versatile surf-rock production, a stand-out track on every level. Interlaced with powerful guitar solos, it’s a song that just works, while closer “Wabaleka” (loosely translated from Zulu as “he ran away”) expertly blends language and rhythm.

Hawema know what makes the alternative scene tick, and they’re putting that knowledge to good use, satisfying a contemporary blend of two very different genres in a strangely harmonious way.