MSTRKRFT’s sophomore release Fist Of God has been a long time coming. The Canadian duo of Jesse Keeler and Al-P alluded to it when their first record was released in 2006, The Looks. Here we are, almost 3 years later, and MSTRKRFT have succeeded in maintaining their momentum in that time. They have been dropping regular remixes and tracks and maintaining a hectic tour schedule.

Fist Of God sees them releasing on a new label – Steve Aoki’s imprint Dim Mak Records. This time they trade in the vocoder and choose to work with a host of vocal guests including Lil’ Mo, N.O.R.E., John Legend, E-40, Ghostface Killah, Freeway, and Jahmal Tonge of Toronto band the Carps. The album cover features a fist made out of legs and asses, giving a hint of what’s inside.

The album opens with their familiar electro squelches and arpeggio hooks on the track It Ain’t Love, featuring R&B diva Lil’ Mo. It is a bold move by the duo but they pull it off nicely, kicking things right into top gear from the start. It Ain’t Love doesn’t do anything to dispell the comparisons to Justice and the 2nd track, 1000 Cigarettes, is a little too Daft Punk for my liking. I was pretty skeptical until Bounce kicked in. This was the first single that was released last year, and it is the first track on the album that really shows MSTRKRFT in top form. This one is just made to tear up dance floors. Paired with Vuvuvu, they form the perfect hook for the record.

It’s around that time we are handed the first change in pace, Heartbreaker an LCD Soundsystem style number featuring John Legend on vocals. I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for it. But as with many of the vocal tracks on the record I feel like they could have used a little more work. From here, the record returns to the thumping electro feel of Fist Of God, and rounds things out with a few vocal tracks in a row. Jahmal smoothes things out, before E-40 and Ghostface Killah jump in with the tough guy antics. Jahmal returns to bring things into R&B vocal territory again and they round out the record with a vocal version of 1000 Cigarettes (featuring Freeway).

Overall, Fist Of God is a little predictable and derivative but it shows strong artistic vision. The hits are massive and MSTRKRFT prove they still know how to get the party moving.