Zmack drops new LP ‘Rustbelt Rejects’

Hailing from Akron in Ohio, Zmack has developed his music from the ground up, forging an independent creative identity from the industrial landscape of the Rust Belt region. His sound is intrinsically linked to the environment that shaped him but it’s equally tethered to a profoundly personal musical journey. At the centre of that journey is the influence of his late best friend CJ, with whom Zmack spent countless hours writing, recording and collaborating and since CJ’s passing, that shared creative history has remained a central force behind everything he creates.

Working independently from home setups across Northeast Ohio, Zmack has spent years developing a musical world without expensive studios or the need for industry validation. Supported by a close circle including producer and engineer Dave, longtime friends Charles and Jordan, girlfriend Rianna and promoter Rob, he’s continued experimenting until arriving at a sound that blends an array of genres into his highly original artistic output.

Hip hop provides one pillar but Zmack’s music draws from shadow rap, Memphis trap, horrorcore, funk metal, industrial, nu-metal, phonk and dubstep. By not treating these influences as separate destinations, he brings them together through an approach built around collision; Rust Belt grit meeting Memphis-inspired rhythms, industrial textures crashing into heavy low end and dark aesthetics giving way to unexpected sounds.

That sense of place remains crucial and Northeast Ohio is not merely a backdrop for Zmack’s music, Akron, Brady Lake and the wider Rust Belt become part of its vocabulary. The grit, decay and determination of the region feed directly into his creative identity, alongside personal experiences of loss and loyalty, his Irish-American heritage and the strange beauty of growing up surrounded by an environment defined by both deterioration and endurance.

Years of writing, recording and experimentation have now resulted in Rustbelt Rejects, Zmack’s new eight-track album. It’s a project that channels distortion, unconventional production and stylistic unpredictability where distorted slap bass, mechanical power tool textures, dubstep-influenced low end and Memphis-inspired drums all become part of its sonic architecture. Rustbelt Rejects captures the defiant character of the Rust Belt area while exploring themes of loss, identity and strength, with Zmack transforming the places and experiences that shaped him into powerful sonic expression.

Kicked off by “Rust Sound,” the opening track reflects the album’s regional character, serving up a gritty alternative hip hop track that rolls with pounding beats, driving bass and razor sharp rapped vocals, resulting in an intense jam that’s engrossing and highly unique. “Blood of the Irish” draws directly from Zmack’s Irish-American heritage, crafting a gripping outing packed full of infectious vocal leads and steady rhythmic punch.

With “Pressure,” the surge of dark synth lines and stuttered vocal shots jumps into a booming hip hop cut brimming with slick vocals and wubbing synth elements. “Streetlights” glides with misty vocalisations and airy synth elements which contrast the impactful snap of the beat with a more intricate arrangement as Zmack’s rapid rap flow glides throughout. “Clown” lays down a moody soundscape where pulsing synth textures and thumping percussion provides an enthralling backdrop for shifting vocal styles to form moody leads above.

“Dirty Muskrat” further demonstrates the darker and grimier side of Zmack’s aesthetic, embracing horrorcore stylings within the album’s constantly twisting framework. “Brady Lake Phonk” offers another riveting musical experience of dark electronic arrangement and intense vocal work while closing track “Shooter (Rusty Romp)” brings the record to a thrilling conclusion with booming beats, crunching synth layers and robust vocals, delivering an invigorating finale to Zmack’s incredible new full-length album.

Rustbelt Rejects represents the result of Zmack’s musical exploration and stands as both a personal statement and a memorial to CJ. The record carries the influence of their shared creative background while reflecting everything Zmack has developed since, transforming loss into another reason to keep creating. Its Akron origins, Irish heritage, personal experiences and impactful sound design all feed into the same vision where Zmack isn’t simply documenting where he comes from, he’s turning it into something entirely his own.

Listen to Rustbelt Rejects below