This is the 3rd collaborative LP from Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcees Asun Eastwood & Daniel Son produced by Futurewave. Notable for being members of the Brown Bag Money collective, they would originally unite in 2018 when teaching the Physics of Filth & ran it back during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic when the previous album they did Bite the Bullet dropped. So hearing they were doing Nom de Guerre nearly a month after former DPW Worlds Tag Team Champions, 新日本プロレスリングストロングオープン級タッグチームチャンピオン, RPW British Tag Team Champions & NXT Tag Team Champions the Grizzled Young Veterans ended 1st Faction’s reign as MLP Canadian Tag Team Champions.
After the intro, “MACV-SOG” breaks down the door with this hardcore boom bap opener likening themselves to the unconventional task force around the time of the Vietnam War whereas “Headcrack City” infuriatingly claps back at their detractors who thought they wouldn’t make it this far. “Plant the Flag” talks about claiming their turf since they’re standing on the hill prior to “Catch a Limit” dustily tuning out everyone who can’t play shit compared to them.
“Trump Towers” moves on from there depicting the gangsta lifestyle together over another boom bap instrumental while “Fassy Bwai” featuring Kardinal Offishall reaches the midway point of Nom de Guerre demolishing any coward who gets in their way. “Blood of the Irish” kicks off the 2nd half on some jazzier vibes talking about their desires of attempting to lay low for a bit just before “Clean Up Nice” details real life sob stories being fed up of being broke.
The song “Repugnant” blends a piano and the some kicks & snares talking about having an abundance of money & cocaine leading into “Riding Convey” featuring Wizdome Buntail & 36 Cypher finds the quartet sinisterly painting the walls using the blood of their opposition. “Dusty Particles” featuring Lord Juco brings an organ in the picture so all 3 of them can get in their hustler bags lyrically while the closer “Dirty Weaponry” chops up a drumless sample talking about showing the world beyond sight.
Sidelining my personal belief of Asun Eastwood’s output post-The S.O.U.L. (Science Of Understanding Life) being average at best, seeing him reuniting with Daniel Son for Nom de Guerre thankfully lived up to my expectations of becoming the strongest collab effort since he released 98 Miles with M.A.V. roughly 5 & a half years ago. Physics of Filth & Bite the Bullet are both superior with the latter having a superior guest list, but it’s refreshing to hear their chemistry hasn’t waned.
Score: 8/10
