One of the most unique sounds of heavy metal brutality to date, Swallowing The Rabbit Whole sees Code Orange dialing it up to twenty-two. Their electronic/industrial infusion into heavy metal and hardcore isn't one that I'm too familiar with, but this track is a standalone highlight of 2020.
The moment it starts, you can already tell you're in for one hell of a time, and boy does it deliver. As soon as the first main riff comes in, generously peppered with harmonics, the intensity of the track increases tenfold. With this machine-heavy distorted sound, the energy gets unreal, and when the vocals come in, I was just about blown away.
I've always been on the fence when it came to intentionally altered vocals, it's really case by case for me, but I enjoyed their heavily distorted vocals in this song. A combination of doing it right and matching the vibe of the song, it just adds to the heaviness of the track overall. The call and response structures in the verse are great, I especially love the delivery of the line "can see it, couldn't touch it", it just hits the sweet spot for me. The little funky guitar riffs that spice up the background instrumentals adds so much to the eerie atmosphere of this verse.
The electronic experimentation in this song is loveable. Somewhere in the second verse contains a moment where the entire soundtrack choppily fades out and jerks back in, and not only is it such an impactful moment, it makes me feel like I'm in some sort of a Matrix movie. There's also this relatively calmer section in the song that feels like a narration, a leader delivering a message to the people. It adds so much to the fury and rebelliousness of the song, and I love the creative choices that let this exist and in a way that contributes so well to the undertones of this song.
The crown jewel of this song is definitely the breakdown, even with all the great moments in the rest of the track. The buildup is nigh-perfect, juxtaposing anticipation and ferocity right before they drop you off the cliff with a burning backpack full of fireworks. The riffage is so electronically amplified and jarring, the pacing is relentless, the sounds are contrasting from the lowest lows to the highest highs, the rhythm catches you off guard, the entire experience is heavy beyond belief. The first time I heard this breakdown, I was stank-faced the entire way through, headbanging in awe and disbelief.
The outro is perfect for the song, catching you right after the behemoth of the breakdown and leaving you with the titular line and a masterfully unsettling soundscape akin to standing in the dust and debris. The space it leaves in its auditory wake is ideal for letting the song sink into your bones and forever leave an impression.
If there's anything to be in awe about, it's how all the complexities in this song is perfectly fitted to a T, with its jaw-dropping metal elements, unconventional but effective song structure and blissfully creative and eargasmic use of electronics. The incorporation of electronics is done so skillfully, in a way that feels organic, as if it really could be done with a guitar, unlike the common downfall of electronics usage where it sounds like a separate instrument altogether and sidelining the actual instruments.
It's a memorable track, unforgiving in its rage and unbelievable in its technicality, and it is so fun to rock out to. When it comes to embracing the chaos, Code Orange has done a stellar job with this monstrosity of a centerpiece. 5/5s are usually reserved for songs that have significant sentiment, but if the baseline is thoroughly enjoying the song and never passing up the opportunity to spin it, Swallowing The Rabbit Whole more than deserves the rating.
Rating: 5/5