It’s inevitable that at end of each year people will always start talking lists and favourite albums. Last year, in what was twelve months of extremely solid releases, Horrorshow’s debut LP The Grey Space finished at the top of the pile for mine. So it is with great anticipation I have been waiting to hear how they would follow it up, and this time they give us The Inside Story.

The general influence and theme of the record seems to be one of traveling, getting out in the world and the relationships that creates with the people that surround yours. That may be one of the reasons they set the story in motion with In, a laidback drum-based beat, laced with socially conscious rhymes about some of the darker sides of life, before culminating in a final verse which begins the albums and your journey, lyrically seeing you leaving on a plane and arriving overseas.
Right from the opening bars of the next track The Show, it’s welcoming to hear that Inside Story hasn’t fallen too far from the Grey Space tree. Adit once again handles all the production duties and it’s easy to hear his unique style that made the last record sound so polished for a first release. This track is a clear “we’re back” joint. It speaks of the past year, name-checking some important events for the duo such as their album launch at the Annandale and subsequent national tour.
Thoughtcrime (Doin’ my think) is a catchy and upbeat track, basically nominating itself as the lead single. Listening to this through the speakers already evokes images of the crowd chanting along with the breakdown in the middle, I believe it’s safe to expect some killer versions of this one in the live set over the summer.

The next track brings a slight change from the usual lush soundscapes that Adit produces. This time he punctuates Solo’s vocal with a punchy drum beat. This change up from the regular keeps the album sounding fresh all the way through, and is often not used enough by bands and producers. Adit now gets a chance to be in the driver’s seat, showcasing his production skills on the instrumental Nothing To Be Done. With more cuts than an entire audience of My Chemical Romance fans Adit samples the likes of the Hoods, Mos Def and Public Enemy. Rain is the most lyrically intricate song on the album. Solo really gets a chance to show off his storytelling skills, and paints a lyrical picture with the same vividness Hilltop Hoods get across on their brilliant Stopping All Stations track.

After her awesome Shruggin’ effort on Urthboys latest record, Jane Tyrell quite deservedly lands Inside Story’s first guest vocal spot appearing on In My Haze. This is again another variation to the norm, Solo taking a risk and putting out a track that is more a song than a rap. The risk pays off, making this one of the best efforts on the album. And every Hip Hop record needs a song about girls and Inside Story has She. But unlike a lot of the genres songs about girls, this one is delivered in true Horrorshow style. Solo doesn’t rap about “layin’ his mac down” but actually pokes fun at that exact sentiment in the skit that rounds the track out.

As with Horrorshow’s first record, fellow One Dayers, Spit Syndicate have again made an appearance on this album in Neighbourhood Hit. Both crews hail from the Inner Western suburbs of Sydney, which for all intensive purposes is the hip hop capital of our fair city. What better area to write it about, and what better crews to do it… the answer is none. All-in-posse tracks can be a bit hit or miss, but possibly due to growing up together and sharing similar experiences and influences, this has helped formed styles for all the emcees involved which are complimentary to each other, and the track comes off brilliantly because of it.

The journey is now finishing and your plane is coming in to land. On Found Solo speaks of flying back into Sydney after a long journey and seeing that familiar skyline. The anticipation of seeing family and friends you have missed whilst being away. Last but not least is Walk You Home (This Day), and this song is a follow up from Days Past on the last album. A song about an obviously painful breakup, the follow up finds our emcee one year on as he pens his feelings towards the situation now. Adit adds a nice touch bringing the beat from Days Past back in mid track.

Ultimately I feel Horrorshow have managed to pull off something a lot bands are unable to, that is to better their first effort. The non braggadocio style of the raps and stories give something to people who often find hip hop hard to listen to, due to those aforementioned aspects of the genre. At the same time this is a hip hop record made by hip hop heads, so there is something there for everyone who is willing to give it a listen. This record will again rival the best I have heard this year.