Today, experimental Hip-Hop legends dälek release their latest full-length album, Brilliance of a Falling Moon.
Conceived, composed, and produced by Will Brooks (aka MC dälek) and Mike Mare, Brilliance of a Falling Moon is a sprawling, uncompromising record that speaks to the political timbre of the day. Taking its name from a section of Erik Larson’s 2011 novel In The Garden of Beasts, the album paints a fiery portrait of life and resistance in fascist America.
Recorded in the group’s Deadverse Studios over the course of 2024 and 2025, Brilliance of a Falling Moon’s beats are propelled by brutal, dust-caked drum breaks and cloaked in an ominous, otherworldly atmosphere. Taking aim at everything from The State’s suppression of information to colonialism and Trump’s demonization of immigrants, Brooks’ rhymes are practically burning with outrage at the current state of the world.
“When you listen to this, I hope you walk away with hope because we’re still fighting, building, and pushing.”
Check out the new video for ‘Normalized Tragedy’ below:
AA
Not only has dälek always presented an undiluted political stance in their music, the band is part of the continuum of bold, revolutionary hip-hop pioneered by Public Enemy and The Bomb Squad. dälek has spent decades carving out a unique niche fusing hardcore Hip Hop, noise and a radical approach to sound.
Founded by Will Brooks (aka MC dälek) and Alap Momin (aka Oktopus), dälek debuted in 1998 with Negro Necro Nekros, a sonic tour de force built upon thunderous drums, blissful ambient sections, and gritty, insightful lyrics. On watershed albums like 2002’s From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002), Absence (2005), Abandoned Language (2007), and 2009’s Gutter Tactics (2009), dälek laid a template that added completely new textural and structural dimensions to rap music.
With this kind of musical and political pedigree, it makes sense that dälek would return with such a timely record that reflects all of our frustrations.
Once again the band has teamed up with artists Paul Romano and Mikel Elam for the striking package artwork.
AA
Photo credit: Jonny-Scala
Aural Aggravation 