Orlando, Florida’s ThomasDavid has recently shared his debut album, ‘ANGELS & DEMONS’, offering up the nine-track collection after a few expressive singles. An ambitious project which sees him taking the reigns almost entirely, the album is a self-produced, two-year project that first took root in March 2023.
At its core, ‘ANGELS & DEMONS’ stands, first and foremost as a hip-hop album, with ThomasDavid building on the dynamic genre to make his mark. The album’s journey begins with ‘RAIN’, a track that captivates with its delicate, ruminative keyboard melodies and subtle, modulated vocal textures. It’s a track that unfolds gradually, letting the melody take shape through layers of soulful harmonies flowing and tempered beats before ThomasDavid’s vocals takes centre stage. His style has a laid-back quality, navigating the instrumentation with an unforced, almost meandering grace.
At over five minutes, ‘RAIN’ is one of several extended pieces that arrive in the album, a sign of ThomasDavid’s ambitions within the project. Following ‘RAIN’, the familiar sounds of ‘OCEANS’ arrives, bringing a similar feel, characterised by inviting electronic tones, gentle rhythms, and a renewed surge of dynamism. Elsewhere on the album, ‘AFTERLIFE’ continues in this vein, digging into a more pensive and reflective moods that are shown through a contemporary hip-hop lens. The track delivers more personal moments in lines such as, “I’ve been doing crazy shit, for something to feel”, hinting at the heart and soul that lies behind the album.
On ‘GO CRAZY’, Young Wabo’s presence injects some vibrant energy, setting the track apart and propelling it forward amidst a torrent of robust beats. In contrast, ‘KILL IT’ kicks off with a dramatic soundscape built from soaring synths and meticulously arranged orchestral elements that underpin the semi-industrial rhythms. Here, ThomasDavid’s vocals are more sharply focused and assertive, adding to this fine-knit fusion of hip-hop with electronica.
As the album nears its end, ‘SOMEBODY’ offers a compelling interplay between soulful sounds and intricate vocal harmonies, building towards Duckweed’s more relaxed guest spot. The album then shifts through ‘COCAINE’ to the epic, seven-minute plus closer, ‘I KNOW’. This final track emerges from a spoken-word passage, a reflective account from Timothy 4:7, before transitioning into sweeping waves of rolling synths. It serves as a fitting conclusion, providing the most comprehensive and impressive insight into ThomasDavid’s grand artistic ambitions and undeniable talent.
As a whole, ‘ANGELS & DEMONS’ stands as a sharp introduction to ThomasDavid's style and talent. It’s an album that showcases his modern and self-reliant approach to hip-hop, blending personal lyricism with expressive electronic production and soulful undertones.
You can stream the full album above via Spotify and be sure to connect with ThomasDavid on Instagram for more.
