Blade of the Ronin
by Cannibal Ox
  • Record Label: iHipHop
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2015
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. Q Magazine
    Apr 13, 2015
    80
    They still sound confident and all-conquering. [May 2015, p.103]
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  2. RapReviews.com
    Mar 24, 2015
    80
    Blade of the Ronin has its own artistic ambitions that aren't duplicative of its predecessor, all resemblances notwithstanding. Vast Aire and Vordul Mega have shown on this record that, as a duo, they stand alone and aren't defined by their producer.
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Mar 19, 2015
    80
    Blade of the Ronin’s greatest success lies not in avoiding the commonplace, but rather in their commitment to pre-SDCC juvenilia, as well as to a more holistic sense of sincerity.
  5. Spin
    Mar 5, 2015
    80
    Blade isn't quite that esoteric or ambitious, just an adept, hour-long reminder of how 14 years ago these guys turned your average boom bap into elaborate fantasies of iron galaxies and screamed phoenixes.
  6. Exclaim
    Mar 5, 2015
    80
    While he seems outshone by his flashier co-stars on much of Ronin at first, repeat listens find his well stoked lines smouldering for far longer than you'd think.
  7. AllMusic
    May 8, 2015
    70
    Blade of the Ronin comes shockingly close to the sound and the excitement of their 2001 effort The Cold Vein, and offers the same kind of combination of street knowledge and sweet punch lines, all delivered over rickety yet compelling beats.
  8. Uncut
    Apr 29, 2015
    70
    Their prevailing operatic bleakness has barely changed in the intervening 14 years. [Jun 2015, p.72]
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  9. The Quietus
    Mar 20, 2015
    70
    It's not exactly pushing these MCs towards a new rap revolution, tapping the past and present but skipping predicting tomorrow, but it's consistently engaging without overpowering the stars of the show.
  10. HipHopDX
    Mar 9, 2015
    70
    Blade of the Ronin is a dense collection of music. Fans of lyricism will appreciate the wordplay, as well as the contributions from artists like Elzhi and DOOM, among many others.
  11. Pitchfork
    Mar 10, 2015
    67
    Even those who decided years ago that this album was going to be great will be hard-pressed to find a great rap record here, only a sporadically enjoyable one.
  12. Pretty Much Amazing
    Mar 5, 2015
    67
    Blade Of The Ronin is a well-crafted, entertaining, and moderately inspired follow-up that doesn’t do justice to the fourteen-year wait, but it reimagines Can Ox as competent storytellers rather than progressive geniuses.
  13. Consequence
    Mar 5, 2015
    67
    While Blade of the Ronin doesn’t double down on the trail-blazing vision of its predecessor, it is a more than capable sequel to a genre classic.
  14. The Wire
    Jun 5, 2015
    60
    They're indubitably human this time around. [Jun 2015, p.54]
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  15. PopMatters
    May 8, 2015
    60
    Blade of the Ronin is a modest, dignified return for one of underground hip-hop fans’ long lost favorites. It won’t be a memorable record, but for fans who have waited this long for something new, it provides.
  16. Record Collector
    Apr 24, 2015
    60
    While Vast Aire and Vordul Mega rarely hit the heights of their former lyrical ingenuity, their stream-of-consciousness rapping style remains one of the most potent forces in hip-hop.
  17. The Guardian
    Mar 19, 2015
    60
    While the sound has lost its edge, the MCs--Vast Aire in particular--still possess great verbal imagination.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. jrodfilms
    Mar 6, 2015
    5
    i can agree with some of the reviews to the left that while this is an ok sometimes good listen, you are better off listening to the firsti can agree with some of the reviews to the left that while this is an ok sometimes good listen, you are better off listening to the first album, 'the cold vein.'… Full Review »
  2. BIGMAN22
    Apr 26, 2016
    6
    as a fan of cannibal ox. this isnt like the cold vein in terms of El-P's stellar lo fi production. the production mostly being handled by anas a fan of cannibal ox. this isnt like the cold vein in terms of El-P's stellar lo fi production. the production mostly being handled by an unknown producer. his attempts on a few tracks to produce them are eh. the black milk produced track is marvelous. may not be as good their debut but has a few listenable tracks.… Full Review »
  3. nirvanafreak
    Aug 12, 2015
    0
    Review from March:It didn't seem too bad at first but after a couple of listens it got boring and became a disappointing album from a duoReview from March:It didn't seem too bad at first but after a couple of listens it got boring and became a disappointing album from a duo which released one of the greatest underground hip hop albums 14 years before. It has cool artwork but that isn't enough to make me listen to it ever again. 2/10

    Review in August:This albums makes my brain vomit. If i had to choose between watching Zoella or listening to this again i'd choose Zoella, and i really hate Zoella. Seriously though this is terrible definitely worst release of the year for me (worse than the new Public Enemy album, worse than the Megan trainor album, worse than troy aves album, worse than everything ugh **** my life) 0/10    … Full Review »
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