On his third major release, reggae artist
I-Wayne continues to mix the political with the romantic, but here, his Rastafarian attitude is expanded upon. Songs filled with conscious verses and empowering choruses meander in the style of free-flowing Rastas like
Midnite, and the grooves are deep and extended, with many tracks pushing or crossing the five-minute mark. This increases the mystic feel of the powerful title track and the bold opener, “Burn Down Soddom,” and yet “Empress Divine” is an accessible number that would sit fine on a Tyler Perry soundtrack while “The Fire Song” is a synthetic dancehall explosion with special guest
Assassin at his sharpest. All of it flows together smoothly, with two risky cuts -- the skeletal “Drugs and Rum Vibes” and the spacy love song “Life Joy” -- adding some unexpected experimental touches. A “Can’t Satisfy Her”-sized hit would make this the instant pick of
I-Wayne’s initial trilogy of albums, but as it is, it’s the richest experience of the three and the crown jewel by roots standards. ~ David Jeffries