Dual Diagnosis had already set the bar high with their 2020 album “The Intake,” particularly with the track “I Get Up” garnering over 100,000 streams on Spotify alone. This New Jersey-based hardcore hip-hop duo, comprised of brothers Mad Mike and Paulie Walnutz, has been steadily carving out their niche in the underground music scene since the early 2000s. Their unique blend of rap and rock, infused with horror-core elements and deeply personal lyrics, has resonated with fans seeking authenticity and raw emotional expression. Now, in 2024, Mad Mike is back with a powerful EP that promises to push boundaries even further.
The journey of Dual Diagnosis has been marked by notable accomplishments. They’ve collaborated with well-known artists like Slaine, Gorilla Voltage, and UnderRated. Their music video for “Mad Man” in 2018 opened doors, leading to podcast interviews and increased visibility. The duo has also dabbled in film, creating “Untreated” with Slaine in 2019. Live performances at venues like Culture Shock in Scranton, PA, and the Blue Lounge in Queens, NY, have helped solidify their presence in the underground scene.
Released in June 2024, “Nature of the Beast” is Mad Mike’s second EP under the Dual Diagnosis banner. This six-track journey clocks in at just under 17 minutes, but don’t let its brevity fool you. Each song packs a punch, delivering an intense exploration of mental health struggles, personal demons, and the raw reality of living with dual diagnosis.
The EP kicks off with an “Intro” – a brief glimpse into the chaotic mind of someone grappling with their inner beasts. The title track, “Nature of the Beast,” follows, hitting hard with its blend of hardcore rap and rock influences. Mad Mike‘s lyrics paint a vivid picture of internal struggle, addressing a doctor, a higher power, or perhaps himself, in a plea for freedom from his own mind.
“I’m talking to a doctor, a higher power, or myself about setting myself free from my own trials and tribulations,” Mad Mike explains. “Demons that reside in the subconscious can hold power over our thoughts and feelings. However, we have the inner power to release these thoughts and feelings through intentional actions.”
The track “Harsh” continues this theme, delving deeper into the raw emotions that come with mental health challenges. It’s followed by “Patient On The Run,” a single released strategically during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2024. This track, produced by The Arcitype, showcases Mad Mike‘s ability to collaborate and bring fresh perspectives to his sound.
“Murder One” keeps the energy high, its aggressive beats matching the intensity of the lyrics. The EP closes with “The Edge,” a fitting finale that leaves listeners contemplating their own inner struggles and the thin line between sanity and chaos.
In “Nature of the Beast,” Mad Mike doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of mental health struggles and exudes unflinching honesty. He embraces them, using his music as a form of catharsis and connection. “It’s our intention that listeners will resonate with our songs and find inspiration from the healing messages in the lyrics,” he says. “Listeners should feel a sense of comfort and clarity from the expressed sentiments of anger. However, the emotion of anger really comes from the perspective of confronting our fears.”
The production on the EP is split between Mad Mike himself and The Arcitype, creating a diverse soundscape that complements the lyrical content. Recorded at Bow Wow Studios in New Jersey and mixed and mastered by CJ Scioscia, the EP maintains a professional sound while retaining the raw edge that Dual Diagnosis fans have come to expect.
The release of “Nature of the Beast” was accompanied by a music video for the title track, showcasing Mad Mike‘s multifaceted talents. Produced and edited by Mad Mike via Lost Souls Productions, with cinematography by Danielle Rackowski, the video adds another layer to the EP’s narrative, bringing the lyrics to life in a visually striking manner.
“Nature of the Beast” serves as a raw, unfiltered look at the realities of living with dual diagnosis. It’s a reminder that behind every diagnosis are real people with real struggles, hopes, and dreams. As Mad Mike puts it, “We may not have control over how things occur in life, but we do have the power to control how we think, so that we can respond to our fears from a place of vulnerability, compassion, and space of higher awareness.“
As the final notes of “The Edge” fade away, we’re left with a sense of both unease and hope. The beasts within us may never truly be tamed, but through music, through connection, and through facing our fears head-on, we can learn to live alongside them. And in that coexistence, we might just find our own path to healing.
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