Dungeon Brothers, Elliott Thomas, Dreckig
Recommended
Dungeon Brothers' eponymous debut LP features a graphic of some kind of lizard king sitting on a throne covered with melted candle wax and wielding a double-bladed axe while a grinning gargoyle perches on its arm. With this imagery and emcee names like Sludge and Homunculus, it's little wonder why Dungeon Brothers have failed to generate huge amounts of buzz in a hip-hop community trying to gain serious footing. This is a huge bummer, seeing as how Dungeon Brothers' songs are comprised of some of the smoothest, funniest flows this side of MC Chris, even mired as they are in sci-fi/fantasy realms. Tracks as immediately engaging as "Elephant Graveyards" or "My Apothecary" would be incredible all on their own. Throw in that the duo performs behooded in dark cloaks like wizard-worshipping Beasties, and Sludge and Homunculus are easily one of the best underground hip-hop projects happening in Portland. Now you know, and may the lizard king help us all. RYAN J. PRADO