Fear Itself

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Compared to the complex psyche of Del and the Souls of Mischief's interwoven rhyme schemes, Casual was the most conventional of the Bay Area's Hieroglyphics, yet few would to be foolish enough to dismiss him as any average MC. The very essence of a battle rapper, Casual was a braggadocio maestro who badgered the competition into submission with his freestyle-infused lyrics. Fear Itself perhaps represented the zenith of the Hiero's abilities. The most lyrically and musically consistent album the collective ever put out, Fear Itself had no end of impressive lyrics or tracks. On the latter end, producer Domino and fellow Hiero members put many of their obscure breakbeats to use, filling the album with thick, rolling bass lines ("Me-O-Mi-O") expressive jazz melodies ("Thoughts of the Thoughtful") and crashing drum marches ("Chained Minds"). Holding up his end of the bargain, Casual was relentless, straight-smacking MCs down on "That's How It Is," "You Flunked," and "Lose in the End," but still taking enough time to sleep with his best friends' girls ("I Didn't Mean To"). --Oliver Wang

Fear Itself,Casual,Jive,Alternative Rap,Club/Dance,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,West Coast Rap

Fear Itself

Tracks:

Intro
You Flunked
Me-O-Mi-O
Get Off It
That's How It Is
That Bulls**t
Follow The Funk
Who's It On
I Didn't Mean To
We Got It Like That
A Little Something
This Is How We Rip S**t
Lose In The End
Thoughts Of The Thoughtful
Chained Minds
Be Thousand

Amazon.com

Compared to the complex psyche of Del and the Souls of Mischief's interwoven rhyme schemes, Casual was the most conventional of the Bay Area's Hieroglyphics, yet few would to be foolish enough to dismiss him as any average MC. The very essence of a battle rapper, Casual was a braggadocio maestro who badgered the competition into submission with his freestyle-infused lyrics. Fear Itself perhaps represented the zenith of the Hiero's abilities. The most lyrically and musically consistent album the collective ever put out, Fear Itself had no end of impressive lyrics or tracks. On the latter end, producer Domino and fellow Hiero members put many of their obscure breakbeats to use, filling the album with thick, rolling bass lines ("Me-O-Mi-O") expressive jazz melodies ("Thoughts of the Thoughtful") and crashing drum marches ("Chained Minds"). Holding up his end of the bargain, Casual was relentless, straight-smacking MCs down on "That's How It Is," "You Flunked," and "Lose in the End," but still taking enough time to sleep with his best friends' girls ("I Didn't Mean To"). --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews:

Follow the funk..........2003-03-03

"Came from Oakland/Grew up under Too $hort..."

Of all the Heiro members, Casual was the most grounded in the Oaktown pimp style that was a staple in Oakland, popularized by people like Too $hort and Spice 1. Casual serves some of that in this album...with a Heiro twist.

While Del and the Souls Of Mischief's beats are a lot more abstract, Casual displays a lot more funk. Domino starts the album off by taking a Roy Ayers break and adding some bongos to make heads nod right off the bat. A lot of the beats go from the drum-heavy tracks (like "That's How It Is", "Me-O-Mi-O", "Get Off It") to the laid back funk ("Follow the Funk", and "Thoughts for the Thoughtful", another Roy Ayers break.) all designed to make heads nod.

Casual is capable of dropping punchlines at thr drop of a hat. He has a field day dissing rappers that "Bit so hard I thought it was a quote!" There are many choice quotables on this album. Thing is, since this is straight from the Bay area, you have to make records about mackin'. And that he does with "I Didn't Mean To", one of the few songs that got some airplay.

The crew jumps in for a few songs. "Who's It On" features Pep Love (who almost sounds like Dres of the Black Sheep) and Del. Del also shows up for "A Little Something".

The most notable appearance is from a newcomer named SAAFIR THE SAUCY NOMAD, who makes his first appearance on "That B.S.", where he basically screws around in the studio. Who would've known at the time that this man would lay the lyrical SMACKDOWN on Casual on the Wake Up Show a few years later? Cas certainly didn't!

Sadly, Casual would abandon the funky beats he had on this album in favor of more Casio-based garbage on his second album, MEANWHILE (which was a limited release), and his third album, HE THINK HE RAW. Looks like someone needs to dig up Roy Ayers' COFFY SOUNDTRACK again!

This album is a must have for any Heiro-addict, as well as anyone who is interested in lyricism.

Will Heiro ever get their groove back? I sincerely hope so...

Classic Debut.......2001-07-23

Casual's raw energy over mostly domino-produced beats is an excellent combination. Casual's mic presence is unmatched, he rips it on each track. Guest appearances by Del and Pep Love on "Who's It On" bring and amazingly dope cut. Peep this album.

Better than Ducks and Stairs.......2001-07-20

For all those people who go and buy Ugly Duckling aaand People Under the Stairs, What they do now used to be innovative. Hiero is an example. Buythis CD instead and get some real hip hop instead of some people wishing that they were Tribe Called Quest or Souls of Mischief. Dope Rhymes, Tight production. Real Hip Hop that's actually from the early 90s.

casual nonchalance.......2001-07-16

i bought this at the advice of a friend. i'm not sorry i listened to that friend, but i can't put casual on the same pedastal.

casual has flow for days. prides himself on the art of freestyle. but freestyles are usually unfocused (quips and jaw-dropping insults that'll test your REW button). and that rule isn't broken here.

i take pleasure in one-liners as much as anyone. but not as much as i did when battle rapping was more fresh....'be thousand' is a welcome diversion from redundancy. so is the witty 'i didn't mean to' where cas waxes about being with his friend's girl.

the james todd smith sample on 'you flunked' made me smile. 'givin you all a big F' from walking with a panther...

del the funkee homosapien is a better rep of casual's crew, the hieroglyphics...check del out.

Timeless Hard Rhymes.......2001-07-04

Casual is still an unapologetic battle rhymer. In his voice you hear the power and arrogance that he needs to dispatch other rappers in face to face combat. Lyrical battling is alive and well in 2K1 and this album still rocks. It has a jazzy vibe kind of like 93 til or Coast II Coast and I put it up there with those two as West side classics. Cas should be dropping his follow up which is almost ten years late, but joints like Chained Minds, Thats How it IS, and This is how we rip will satisfy.

Average customer rating:

Enter the Esoteric World of Progressive / Darkwave
Braindance---Fear Itself
power and emotion that will leave you writhing on the floor
Unique gothic metal

Fear Itself
Braindance
Manufacturer: The Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000046Q3B
Release Date: 2000-04-08

Tracks:

To The Threshold Of Dream
From Whence It Came
Fear Itself
Voices Are Calling
Compound Fracture
Only A Moment
Emergence
A Storm Is Rising
Crime & Punishment
One
Ice

Customer Reviews:

Enter the Esoteric World of Progressive / Darkwave.......2003-06-09

This is widely acknowledged as the most creative, unique progressive metal around. The bandmembers, there are five - Sebastian Elliot, Vora Vor, Robynn Naylor,Eiki Masumoto and notorious - have entitled their music, Progressive darkwave. Every independent review I have read on these guys have given glowing recommendations.

Fear Itself is their first studio album, released in 1995. They also have a more recent album released in 2001, Redemption. Fear Itself has 11 tracks totaling about 66 minutes in length. As mentioned before the music is original and unique dark progressive metal often augmented by the insertion of movie dialog. It is a very interesting combination. If you get a chance to pick this or Redemption up you really should.

Braindance---Fear Itself.......2003-05-20

Amazing... Produced in 1995, although you'd never guess it. Stunning guitar and bass riffs, impressive percussion, and an amazing vocalist makes up this NY based "progressive/gothic" band.
Vora Vor (guitar) and Sebastian Elliot (vocals) write beautiful music: ballads and heavy pieces. At times it resembles the fast progressive sound of Liquid Tension Exp. or Dream Theater. Vocals are often compared to those of Type O Negative or Moonspell. If you enjoy this, the band's new album, "Redemption," should definitely be on your list.

power and emotion that will leave you writhing on the floor.......2001-06-27

This stuff goes straight to your soul, questioning your entire existence. I have to keep this to about a twice in a year listening rate, because its just too emotionally overwhelming. Even then, i only give it a listen when im in a depressed state of mind. When i actually want to feel this sad. The reason for this being only given 4 stars is something that i cant quite put my finger on. Maybe its the overly trebly production. I guess this is what they call "gothic metal", but this is the first "gothic" band ive heard that can stop my heart, going to the deepest and scariest corners of my soul, bringing out fear and hope and wonder simultaneously. This band also has some progressive qualities to it. Many moments of time changing, Dream Theater styled riffing and drumming. I reccomend this album to anyone who is aware and cautious of the emotional strength and power it holds. Not to be abused

Unique gothic metal.......2000-07-05

This is actually a 1995 CD that was way ahead of it's time! The New York club scene was rocked by these gothic, futuristic, intricate musicians. The album contains epic melodic tracks linked by sound-effect intros and outros that include movie dialogues, readings and plain wierdness. The music is dark progressive metal with gothic influences and complex arrangements. Clean vocals and Yes-like vocal harmonies play off against heavy crunchy guitar (a woman named Vora Vor who is simply marvelous on this CD) and soaring keyboard symphonics. Very memorable melodies and intriguing lyrics makes this one of my favorite CD's in the last couple of years! There is no one else out there quite like Braindance's style but maybe Tiamat or Moonspell comes to mind. I have great anticipation for the next release "Redemption" due out in 2000?

Average customer rating:

Casual - Fear Itself

Fear Itself
Casual
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000562CQ

Customer Reviews:

Casual - Fear Itself.......2001-03-26

This album is phat. This is when hiro was at it's peak in the rap game. Casual came out right after Souls of Mischief's epic 93 Till and he follows of right where they left of. One of the highlights is when Saffir rips it on a free style for about 30 seconds. The production from A+ and Snoop is thigh and the cameos from the rest of hiro make this album a near classic.