Cage, Depart From Me

Cage's last album, Hell's Winter, had a triumphant, cathartic feel; having endured abuse and institutionalization throughout his life, developing bad habits along the way, Cage used that work as a pledge to turn his life around. His newest, Depart From Me, acknowledges the difficulties of following through: "It's like you're drowning but too good to take a hand and pities," he cautions on "Nothing Left To Say," "while you cling to your addiction like a kid in swimmies." He chronicles the horrors of living in a mental institution on "Dr. Strong" and his struggles with obesity on "Fat Kids Need An Anthem."

Depart From Me is more accessible than Cage's previous works, sure to appeal to hip-hop and indie rock fans alike. All but abandoning the bratty lyricism of his debut and the dense, experimental texture of Hell's Winter, Cage slows his flow way down on Depart From Me, often singing or wailing instead of rapping. Fittingly, Depart From Me favors rock arrangements, giant guitar hooks and crashing synths, perfectly suited to big, emotional bangers like "I Never Knew You" and "Eating Its Way Out Of Me." Rather than trying to impress with his rhyming skills, Cage is interested in honestly portraying his own struggles, with an eye towards aiding others who may be going through the same thing. Think of the album as a public service announcement you can pump your fist to.