When Holy Ten surprised us with an announcement that his latest album was being released in just 2 days. It was hard to gauge what to expect from it. From one album to the next, his progression as an artist hasn’t exactly been linear. The album title was very gospel-esque and although Holy Ten did mention a verse here and there. The music was very much about the ways of the world of flesh. Yet as a project, The Book of Malachi has a way of standing as the odd one out among his albums in recent memory.
The Book of Malachi comes as album number 4, but even as his 4th the album still sounds like it was done by an artist still discovering their sound. It’s not in terms of the quality but rather the sounds he explores in the 11 tracks that make this album. So maybe he’s simply an artist who’s staying curious and brave enough to try their hand at something new.
The sound of those “piano ballads” that have earned him many hits is there on The Book of Malachi and right in the opening track, Zvivindi. An instant favourite as it addresses home-wreckers of every gender and it has had the first visuals to drop from the project.
Right from the outset, you felt that there might a bit more maturity to Holy Ten as an artist. Mature might not be the right word but it sounded like he had a much calmer cadence. The music simply flows from one track to the next and although the wow moments were not so much, it’s easy to get through all 11 songs.
Deep Down Zaka is slightly introspective, Miscommunications offers up social commentary and Holy Ten shares his pro-life views. God is Not On Holiday brings up the energy with a beat that’s trap in nature and The Book of Malachi sacrifices some of the storytelling for an infectious hook that almost perfectly matches the instrumental.
I was not familiar with any of the featured artists besides seeing the mention of some in passing but each and everyone of them held their own. Especially Michael Magz and Xiba. Xiba delivered sensational vocals on the duet My Feelings (By far my favourite song on the album) and Michael Magz didn’t drop the ball on any of the 4 tracks he was featured. He’s certainly one to watch and Samanyanga Sounds seems like just the right fit for him.
Pressure stands out as that song. It talks about assumptions within the context of relationships and after just a single listen, you can singalong to it. Michael Magz and Mr Candy are big contributors to the songs it factor. Holy Ten’s short verse feels more like a cameo appearance, although it’s his song.
The clarity and clearness of the sound on this album is clearly head and shoulders above his last project Energy. I absolutely loved the production work put into it, even though there was controvesy over “YouTube beats” in Zimhiphop circles.
However The Book of Malachi feels less cohesive as a project, and they’re less instantly striking songs you would say are set to be hits. The self titled “Zimdancehall finisher” is certainly a murderer of the dancehall genre on Can’t Get and not in the best of ways. Although Michael Magz’s verse comes to the song’s rescue.
Holy Ten falters on some songs, in terms of their sonic appeal but it’s certainly a good project. It might be one that needs time for the right level of appreciation.
