For an artist who’s been releasing music for nearly a decade, L3o has never sounded interested in playing the industry game. Since his early projects, he’s operated on the edges. Experimenting with tone, structure, and concept instead of chasing whatever sound is trending. With Lyricon The Hymn Reaper, he refines what he’s been building all along.
At just under 40 minutes, the album is done deliberately. Not bloated. Not rushed. It moves with purpose. From the opening stretch, it’s clear this isn’t a singles-driven project. It is a contained body of work, something meant to be experienced front to back as opposed to chopped playlist fragments.
L3o frames the album within what he calls the Glitch God Universe, and while that could easily come off as branding language, here it actually shapes the sound. The production leans into digital textures, synthetic pads, controlled distortion, and low-end that hums. There’s a slight unease to the sonic palette. Even when the drums hit clean, there’s usually something flickering in the background.
“Bill of Rights” is one of the sharper moments. The beat sits in familiar trap territory. Crisp hi-hats, solid 808 foundation, but it’s not generic. The low-end is measured, and the mix leaves enough room for L3o’s voice to stay clear. His pacing is also noteworthy. He shifts between tighter rhythmic pockets and looser, almost conversational phrasing without losing control of the tempo. There’s a tension in the delivery, but it’s contained and he sounds focused.
He balances personal ambition with broader commentary about systems and control. It never feels preachy, though. More observational than outraged. That restraint works in his favor.
“Haunted House,” featuring Goldwood, takes a different route. The instrumental opens up, giving space to reverb-heavy keys and a more steady drum pattern. The collaboration adds contrast without disrupting the album’s cohesion. Goldwood’s presence softens the edges just enough, creating a dynamic that sounds natural. The track breathes. It doesn’t force momentum.
One of the more interesting aspects of Lyricon The Hymn Reaper is that it avoids predictable hooks. There are repeated phrases and tonal refrains, but you won’t find oversized choruses designed for viral clips. That choice makes the album cohesive. It’s clearly built as a narrative experience first.
“The Glitch that shouldn’t Exist,” the closing track, reinforces that approach. Instead of ending on a dramatic high note, L3o opts for control. The production builds gradually, layering synth textures over steady percussion. His delivery is reflective. And it closes the album without trying to overpower it. That restraint fits the overall tone.
Across the record, his unorthodox flow remains a defining trait. He doesn’t always land where you expect. Sometimes he drifts slightly ahead of the beat, sometimes he pulls back. That unpredictability adds character. It won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s consistent with his identity. He’s not sanding down the edges to make things easier to digest.
Compared to earlier projects like Latency or A.nom.aly, this album feels more focused. The experimentation is still there, but it’s directed. The sequencing makes sense. The tonal palette stays cohesive. Nothing feels thrown in just to diversify the tracklist.
There’s also something to respect about the consistency. Since 2015, he’s maintained an experimental lane without fully pivoting toward mainstream formulas. These days where artists frequently reinvent themselves for algorithmic relevance, that kind of steadiness stands out.
Whether you fully buy into the Glitch God Universe or not, the commitment to that vision is clear. The album is intentional from start to finish. Give it the full 39 minutes. Sit with it. You might find yourself pulled deeper into the glitch than you expected.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lyricon-the-hymn-reaper/1874555007