The Society of Invisibles obviously wants to be shocking, but the biggest surprise on the group’s eponymous debut is its resemblance other rap projects. The group’s projected image of stealthy rap killers owes a large debt to the Wu-Tang Clan, and parts of the record, including some of the raps and chainsaw sound effects, sound too much like Eminem. The beats, augmented by jazzy horns and tasty piano, give the music a cool, film-noir feel, but the rappers repeatedly fail to deliver on the promise of the production. The Invisibles are trying to be scary, but the most disturbing aspects of their record are the members’ lackluster flows and sloppy deliveries. The lyrical content is also repellant. Artists have license to handle sensitive issues like religion and terrorism, even if they do so in a seemingly insensitive way. Groups like the Invisibles should leave these topics alone. If only these self-styled assassins had tried to be silent as well as deadly.

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