Zmack – “Rustbelt Rejects”

“Rustbelt Rejects” is an absolute trip of a record, blending a wild range of sounds like Memphis trap, Horrorcore, industrial, funk-metal, and dubstep without feeling cluttered. Recorded right out of Northeast Ohio using Zmack’s home setup and his friend Dave’s studio, the whole project carries a heavy, unpolished edge that fits its title perfectly.

“Rust Sound” sets a grim, heavy tone right away. The track uses distorted slap-bass and power-tool textures that sound straight out of a garage experiment. “Blood of the Irish” takes a different path, driving forward with aggressive energy and a deep sense of personal heritage and pride. It hits hard and fast without overstaying its welcome. “Pressure” keeps the momentum rolling, stacking heavy low-end sub-bass with tight, Memphis-inspired drum patterns. Then “Streetlights” slows down just enough to let atmospheric shadow-rap elements take over.

Beyond those favorites, the rest of the tracklist holds its own weight. “Clown” dips into a dark, eerie Horrorcore vibe. “Dirty Muskrat” is easily the weirdest, grimiest cut here, mixing strange humor with unconventional rock-style song structures, and “Brady Lake Phonk” brings heavy phonk-inspired grooves into the fold, while “Shooter (Rusty Romp)” closes things out with a short, punchy burst of aggressive energy.

Putting this whole release together required serious dedication, with Zmack handling the beat making and vocal work completely on his own while working through deep personal loss, time in prison, and honoring his late best friend CJ.

I completely love this release, and anyone who appreciates raw, genre-bending music should go back and check out Zmack’s previous releases to hear how far his sound has evolved over the years, and make sure to follow Zmack on his social channels and streaming platforms to stay updated on his upcoming live shows, music videos, and all the new music coming out in the rest of this year! Zmack is an artist who puts his entire heart into every single project, and keeping up with his journey is going to be incredibly rewarding as he continues to push boundaries, experiment with new sounds, and drop fresh material for all of us to enjoy!