Curly Castro and PremRock's self-titled debut as ShrapKnel made it clear that the duo is a novel strand of a particular rap lineage. ShrapKnel's sophomore album, Metal Lung, makes this all the more apparent by starting and ending with one of the pillars of this lineage: Vordul Mega and Vast Aire, who rap together as Cannibal Ox. The album begins with Curly Castro ripping through the quick shuffle of Child Actor beat in "Running Rebel Swordplay," working "in the words of the great Vordul Megallah" into relentless wordplay. Twelve tracks later, amidst the imposing crashes of "Gravity Falls," Metal Lung ends with a full-circle moment - Vordul has the last line by way of an "Ox Out the Cage" sample.
