Eugenius’ (aka Phil Smith’s) forthcoming album Crisis is set for release tomorrow, April 15, via Friend Club Records (Common Sage, The Rocking Horse Winner, Caterpillars, etc.). The Cincinnati-based Hip-Hop artist channels multiple genres in pursuit of a completely unique approach that is an amalgam of punk, industrial, hip-hop, and electronic music.

Speaking with Phil Smith, one doesn’t realize the intensity behind the music. He’s a calm, quiet, “shy” person who doesn’t take up the room in his normal demeanor. Phil is a sweetheart, and then when the switch flips, he becomes an absolute monster known as Eugenius.

Seeing Eugenius take the stage is to see the fury of punk and metal set free through driving and passionate lyrics. Who else can meld together the industrial intensity of Nine Inch Nails, the punk experimentalism of The Mars Volta, the bizarro world of Bjork, and the rap skills of Childish Gambino all while touring the U.S. playing guitar for hardcore legend Nathan Gray?

On his new LP, Crisis, Eugenius continues his boundary-pushing ways drawing on influences from video games to soul music to metalcore. We dare you to try to put Crisis in a box. We doubt you’ll be able to.

Order Crisis here.

The Crisis album release show is tomorrow at Northside Tavern in Cincinnati. More details here.

Photo by Phillip Smith. Crisis album art by Arthur Ruaux.