Dublin, Ireland-based rap duo LightnNife unveiled their sophomore album Can’t Wait For Forever. The 12-track project blends hard-hitting boom-bap, bass-driven trap vibes with contemporary elements and a wide range of poignant topics that audiences can relate to. Spearheaded by Stephen Wearen and Michael Brennan, the album serves as an introduction to their lives in Dublin and the experiences that reshaped their outlook as they grow into the men they envisioned themselves as.

The first track “Growing Pains” helps set the tone and ushers audiences into their world with its grim and dark aesthetic. Bolstered by ominous strings, downtempo drum breaks and vivid songwriting, the duo details their internal struggles and the domino effects of certain life choices. Next is “Peter Pan,” a reflective piece that explores stunted growth and the Peter Pan concept. The production here has a dark trap element which the duo repurposes as the backdrop to drop cogent lines like “Young in the heart but I feel that I’m old/Can’t grow tall with no reason to grow/Think in the place when I’m dreaming of gold/Jumped off ship but I’m keeping the flow.” This leads to “Mice of Men,” a moody and introspective track comprising ominous textures and punchy drums. Here, the duo give audiences a perspective about self-progression and the difficulties of discarding entrenched beliefs. The verses are quite engaging while packing a lot of intimate and unapologetic lines and bolstered by a rich melodic chorus. On the surreal “Know Best,” the duo employs an atmospheric soundscape as the canvas to share their thoughts on self-belief and chasing dreams with laser-focused attention.

The project thus far has a wide range of sounds and continues to grow as heard on tracks like“Half Messin’, Pt. 2,” the solemn “Ready or Not,” and “Sunburn.” The hard-hitting downtempo trap-infused “Half Messin’, Pt. 2,” features Giles and Bitter Rocc who all add their 2 cents with engaging rhyme schemes laced with thoughtful commentary. While  “Ready or Not,” and “Sunburn” explore loss, love and a lot of soul-searching. The project closes with “Honourable Mentions” and “Kids Left Behind.” The former is a solemn piano-driven piece laced with sublime vocal samples underpinned by expressive flows and heartwarming songwriting while the latter focuses on seizing the day, being accountable and not leaving things to chance. Other solid tracks include the introspective “Beat Around It” and aspirational “No Doubt.” Both tracks bring a different feel with their engaging soundscapes and poignant themes.