Mike Wiald and IAL Records have been working the last few years building a buzz in the lower mainland from their home base in Abbotsford which has culminated in this painstakingly produced solo effort ‘The Silent Protagonist’. Wiald is a battle rapper (Wildcard), so his strength is naturally in his writing but there is an unexpected depth and range to his musical ability on this album.
The atmosphere straddles the intense emotion of the lyrics and the more relaxed electronic style of production. The feel is consistent throughout TSP as each song keeps its own dynamic structure yet doesn’t break the overall tonal landscape of the project.
If you’ve ever seen a rap battle you know these emcees live and die by the density of their content and the power behind each haymaker. You will definitely find that edge in Wiald’s rap style, as he layers each verse with well-placed punches and references.
The singing by Wiald on the majority of the album, though unpolished, adds to the consistency of the overall mood. One thing Wiald does well is his chorus writing and verse structure ties in with the ebb and flow of each beat so it doesn’t become stale. He maintain’s a pace and energy that meshes very well with the content.
Expect to see more from this young artist soon and look out for him at DTG’s Fort Mac Relief BBQ on May 28th and doing shows in the BC and AB area throughout the summer.
Follow Mike Wiald @ IAL Records
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