The sophomore effort from the Detroit, Michigan quartet known as the Eastside Ninjas—comprised of Jamie Madrox, Monoxide, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, and Anybody Killa—has arrived, but it serves as a stark reminder of the group’s origins. Having risen to prominence after being signed to Psychopathic Records by the Insane Clown Posse in the late 90s and early 2000s, the members eventually formed a “Pact of the 4” following the establishment of their own labels: Majik Ninja Entertainment, Grundy Entertainment, and Native World Inc. The announcement of The Return of the Lotus was met with significant skepticism, primarily due to the absence of two of the most vital petals from the original lineup.
Following the introductory track, the album opens with “Shadow,” a fusion of trap and rock that sees the group exploring themes of mortality. This is followed by “Eradicate,” which leans into a darker, atmospheric soundscape. Tracks like “Wolves” and “All of My Words” continue this narrative of survival and desperation, with the latter finding the group pleading for relief from their ongoing struggles.
As the album reaches its midpoint, “Resilience” highlights the strength of character required to endure criticism, leading into the rap-rock heavy “Mummified.” While “Thoughts Lethal” maintains the guitar-driven aesthetic, the lead single, “I Kill ‘Em Better,” produced by Fritz the Cat and Grady Finch, attempts to tap into the primal, animalistic nature inherent in everyone. However, the project struggles to maintain momentum. Songs like “More Like Control” and the rap-rock infused “Down 4 Life” address the group’s history and their fractured relationship with Psychopathic Records. Ultimately, the album feels like a misstep, failing to recapture the magic of the original Dark Lotus and potentially standing as the weakest entry in the Majik Ninja Entertainment catalog.
Score: 3/10