The thing I like best about Equilibrium is that the beats and music behind the MCs are just as interesting as the MCs themselves. While a few tunes follow a simple looping beat + synths + MC formula, most of the tracks are pretty deep, ranging from tweaky sample/scratch fests like "Quantum Mechanix" to beatless meditations like "Answer of Action" and "Isoteleportation." Some tracks even head into techno/drum and bass land for a visit. Lyrically, well...let's just say that there's some sort of alien or robot or biological invasion or evolution of some sort or something...it's basically indecipherable. That's okay, though -- the rhymes are pretty interesting even if you have no idea what they're about, and the two MCs, Toastie Tailor and Juice Aleem, have developed impressively facile and constantly evolving vocal styles.

I don't really know anything about New Flesh for Old, other than the fact that they're a UK group looking to break into the North American hip-hop scene. But judging by the creativity, intelligence, and energy that's apparent on Equilibrium, I'd say they have a pretty good chance.