Ever since mainstream hip hop sold its soul for the love of benzes, beemers and bling, I’ve been a champion of anyone who dared to rap about anything other than. Someone like Necro never came to mind though. And when I glanced at the guest appearances -- Jamey Jasta, Dan Lilker, Gortex and Mr. Hyde -- I was convinced I wasn’t going to enjoy this CD.

Surprisingly, The Pre-Fix for Death is a damn good CD and, dare I say, breathes new life into a genre that is otherwise suffocating from its own excesses. I hear the groans of “damn, more nu-metal” now, but give this a listen and you will be pleasantly surprised. Be forewarned that the subject matter is not for the weak-stomached, but those brave enough to venture to the fringes of rap-meets-metal experimentation will be pleasantly surprised.

“Beautiful Music to Die To” starts things off with Necro’s rapid-fire delivery. This dude can rhyme. To some, the focus might be just as idiotic as crunk juice and Belvedere, but you can’t deny the man’s mic-skills. With some tough-as-leather beats to boot, it’s enough to make you forget the song’s lyrical senselessness.

“Hell”acious horns and a violently angry hook from Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta ground "Push It To The Limit," while a cavernous bass and cryptic organ fill send shivers up your spine as Necro takes you into the mind of a cannibal on the disturbing "Human Consumption,"; check out the vocal samples for the late Big Pun and Big L.

Necro employs accordion riffs on the hypnotic "Evil Sh-t,”. "Nirvana," is one the CD’s best, featuring Ill Bill, Goretex, and Mr. Hyde. Again, the instrumentation suprises you with some strangely sweet flutes, but the lyricism is every bit as twisted and sick as what’s delivered on the title track. “Pre-Fix For Death” is another display of Necro’s dazzling verbal swordplay and damn does he cut through all cynicism like a hot knife through butter.

Things get autobiographical on "Reflection of Children Coming Up In The Grave" when he says, "Only thing we thought we was promised was dishonest careers/ Beat down and robbed so many people, I have bad karma for years."

My only gripe is “86 Measures of Game” on which, in stereotypical hip hop fashion, he bashes women.

The Pre-Fix For Death isn’t without some straightforward heavy metal songs though Tracks like "Empowered" and "Insaneology" will not appeal to most hip hop fans, but you can’t please everyone, which is something Necro isn’t about.

If there’s one thing you could commend Necro for, it’s his unwillingness to bend. He’s an artist who is hell bent on doing this his way and whoever chooses to come along can. This will not get him signed to a major any time soon, but we’ve all seen what results that can bring. Anyone remember Disturbed?