Not many artists have managed to engineer a new sound and turn it into something authentic. PONTIAC is an exception. “DEATH TRAP,” as coined by the resolute rapper himself, “combines the spirit and recording techniques inspired by early punk, home recording with the spirit of the south, and the things [he] grew up listening to in Florida.” With early influences from R. Stevie Moore, Ariel Pink, Daniel Johnston, Curren$y, Gucci Mane, Young Thug, among others, PONTIAC birthed death trap – an authentic exercise in early punk precision and modern trap undertones, which essentially highlights a feeling over sound quality and cleanliness.

“When developing DEATH TRAP as a sound, I thought about how much I can twist sound with my cheap equipment at home and how to make it disgusting in sound quality but still make it feel as good as anything else”

Although PONTIAC explains that the album concept is beyond the tangible, leaving it more or less open for interpretation, it is difficult to believe that the grouping of its tracks is as organized as bumper cars at a theme park. The term “Gamera” itself is named after a Japanese fictional turtle-like “kaiju” (giant monster), whose characteristics echo certain themes in GGOTSS. The paradox of which lies in the premise that there is an inner monster (Gamera) wrestling with humanity inside PONTIAC’s mind, often triggered in reaction to a society governed by greed and unconsciousness.

Condensed to slow vibrations, muffled lyricism and a “from another room” effect, the sentiment of death trap is nothing short of intriguing. The sound quality on tracks such as “Do It Again” hastily pushes the boundaries of music beyond comfort, yet it encapsulates the restless feeling of being stuck in a lifeless cycle as well as the concealed desire to escape it. He articulates “They didn’t give us a choice / We just link up and destroy,” illustrating a narrative of abandonment and neglect; a vague letter to the systems that have failed those at the outskirts of society. “Fox Brigade” elucidates a more no-fucks-given attitude, giving his ego a chance to shine, in which PONTIAC reassures that he is the deal and it is “Time to kill.” Injustice in the world allows PONTIAC’s monster to slowly take over and become destructive the same way Gamera is predominantly aggressive and destructive in early films after being reawakened and mutated by a nuclear blast caused by war and conflict in the world.

In contrast, we see glimpses of PONTIAC’s vulnerable side on “Up on Sauce,” which samples The Delfonics’ “I Gave To You” with one lyric that plays as a background loop: “Are you gonna love me?” (also sampled in Teyana Taylor’s “Gonna Love Me”). A fog of insecurity plagues PONTIAC as he uses pain as ink in this love letter, capturing the agitation that comes with battling inner monsters. He raps, “I’m a young Zarbon, bitch I’m pretty til it’s ugly,” yet the relaxed background loop, which demonstrates an innocent desire to be loved and to be good, plays as a contrast to his aggressive side. This is somewhat parallel to the less malevolent Gamera in later Japanese films in which he even receives the reputation as “Friend of all Children“ evidencing a shred of goodness in him as he spares the lives of children and protects innocence on Earth.

Album standout “Monsters” takes a different turn as it captures a grungy yet groovy spirit to it, vaguely reminiscent of an 80’s Halloween movie set. In the track, he utters, “Where are my monsters?” along with “Take my hand, I want you to take over,” suggesting that he has given up hope completely, surrendering his fate to the authority of his monsters by the album’s end.

With GGOTSS, PONTIAC invites us to a new world of deep digs and bold genre-crossovers. Although it may be difficult to fully grasp the authenticity of such a project due to its unconventional and alien sound, it is obvious that to create a project like GGOTSS requires a precise combination of confidence, skill and genius. By borrowing imagery and visions of Japanese anime and fiction but not necessarily its sound, GGOTSS is certainly a noteworthy presentation of PONTIAC’s art and ability.

Stream Gamera Gamera of the Setting Sun on Spotify now.

Kristal Dela Cruz