Producer William J. Sullivan makes no exception, with the concise yet powerful statement of political anger that is “Victim’s Victim,” buoyed by music from polymath Doseone. The music delivers like a raw message, short in length but long in impact, and contributes to Sullivan’s body of collaborations that emphasize intensity over affectation.
In less than a minute and a half, the song rapidly conveys its frosty vibe. Grungy synth sounds hum ominously, and clangorous percussion swells led by a grumbling bass line provide this a hard gut, claustrophobic thrusting momentum. Vocals scream through with a brash urgency that has more to do with frantic energy than any melodic flair, and production touches like distortion, quick cuts, and pinned-back dynamics mean that every second feels essential.
“Victim’s Victory” investigates the vicious, self-perpetuating cycle of victimization, imprisonment, and institutional exploitation through a brutal, unyielding lens; Doseone’s shapeshifting flow turns the grim subject matter into something both lyrical and combustible. The partnership scrubs grand and eye-catching effects away in favor of a handful of bold, brash phrases spoken with such conviction that the bluntness serves only to make them more insistent.
The single is a concise manifesto: dark, specific, and hard to ignore. If you prefer your music to demand that attention and respect, rather than simply fill up some space in the background, this is a joy.