Audiopile Review: Issued the year before their breakthrough album Haram, Shrines would be the last album from Armand Hammer as underground hip-hop’s best kept secret. It’s also their first truly great, 10/10 full length, and the start of a run that has seen the duo become one of the most respected rap acts going. ELUCID and billy woods are particularly hungry and inspired here, two balls of electricity bouncing off each other, rapid-firing their cryptic storytelling, deep references and oblique poetry like verbal gunshots. While woods and ELUCID notably advanced from previous outings, their small team of producers also upped their game. Backed by the production of Backwoodz mainstays like Messiah Musik, Steel Tipped Dove, Kenny Segal, August Fanon, and Navy Blue, Shrines burns brighter and more accessible than their two preceding albums—the stark minimalism of Rome and the apocalyptic bleakness of Paraffin were tougher sells, reserved for the hardened underground hip-hop heads. But in Armand Hammer world, nothing is ever gonna be THAT straight forward. The beat selection is still geared towards abstract and fragmented loops culled from obscure sources—very few tracks have had their sample sources revealed. The guest spots are also indicative of the duo’s increased pull and influence, including appearances from Pink Siifu, Moor Mother, R.A.P. Ferreria, Quelle Chris and Earl Sweatshirt. But Armand Hammer are also sure to leave space for their homegrown crew—Akai Solo, Fielded and Curly Castro all drop in for some of the most notable spots on Shrines. So, what is the best Armand Hammer album? Shrines is in the conversation, no doubt.

2 x 12″ orange vinyl with black splatter with the main album on A/B and the instrumentals on C/D.

This album has been our of print for years after it’s original run but now it’s back with all the bells and whistles. Featuring collaborations with Moor Mother, Earl Sweatshirt, R.A.P. Fereirra, Pink Siifu, Navy Blue, Nicholas Craven, Andrew Broder, Child Actor, Quelle Chris, August Fanon and more.

Retreat to the forest where the moon don’t shine
And the sun barely sweeps the floor
– ELUCID

Shrines is an album from Armand Hammer—ELUCID and billy woods—their first since 2018’s AOTY Paraffin. As ever, this release finds the duo treading fresh ground; swimming through rogue rhythms, rhymes skating over the abyss. Fourteen songs. A hundred glassine envelopes in a shoebox. A thousand stops on the train. Fire is stolen, not given.

Shrines features contributions from Quelle Chris, Moor Mother, Earl Sweatshirt, Navy Blue, Andrew Broder, Fielded, Messiah Musik, August Fanon, KeiyaA, Kenny Segal, Nicholas Craven, Akai Solo, Curly Castro, Pink Siifu, Steel Tipped Dove, Fat Albert Einstein, Nosaj and R.A.P. Ferreira.