Cypress Hill - Back in Black

The album aims to be a condensed statement: 10 tracks for a total duration of 32 minutes and 26 seconds, a concise format that contrasts with the length of previous albums and imposes an immediate sonic density.

Takeover and The Ride: the boundaries of a return to classicism

The opening track is signed by Takeover, produced by Black Milk who establishes from the first minute the group's classic sound, far removed from recent experiments. Track 10, The Ride, serves as the closing point for this 32-minute journey, sealing the book with a note that seeks not expansion but conclusion. These two tracks frame the album like a closed circuit, where each track is designed to contribute to an overall stylistic coherence.

32 minutes of density: Black Milk's integral production as the backbone

The major particularity of this album lies in its very conception: Black Milk ensures not only production on all tracks but also mixing on the majority of them. Technical credits reveal a stable team around Aarón Díaz, Dominic Thiroux, and Drew Drucker at the recording level, while B-Real and Sen Dog intervene occasionally on the mixing of tracks 2 and 9. This technical organization translates into a controlled sound where every element is placed with surgical precision, without the usual dispersion found in previous opuses.

Within a production exclusively directed by Black Milk, only two tracks open the doors to an external voice. On track 3, Certified, Demrick adds his vocal presence as a strategic addition to the sonic architecture built by the producer. On track 4, Bye, it's Dizzy Wright who steps in to punctuate the album with another vocal texture. These two collaborations function less like moments of rupture than as accent marks within an artistic trajectory firmly centered on the group's identity and Black Milk's vision. They are not there to expand the collaborative field but rather to offer subtle variations within an already established framework.

Verdict: a stylistically consistent album

This shift toward a producer-led approach from New York allows the group to reaffirm its sonic identity while incorporating contemporary elements without betraying its fundamental codes. The total runtime of 32 minutes and 26 seconds imposes strict discipline, constraining each track to be dense and impactful right from its first second. This album constitutes the group's tenth studio release, positioning Back in Black as a return to roots after more than three decades in existence. After over three decades of career, the group manages to condense its legacy into a compact format while maintaining a recognizable sonic identity. Critical reception validated this approach with a score of 76 on Metacritic, attesting to consensus around the success of the project. The album does not seek brilliance through multiple collaborations or excessive formats; it favors concentration and consistency. It is a return to form that works less as a regression than as an affirmation of the group's artistic relevance in its own language, without attempting to blend into contemporary trends at the expense of diluting its voice.

Technical Details

- Release: March 18, 2022 - Label: BMG - Tracks: 10 (32 min 26 s) - Opening / Closing: Takeover / The Ride - Guests: Demrick, Dizzy Wright