Their debut album, Balance, won them the 2001 Juno Award for best hip-hop recording. The result was a highly anticipated sophomore album, which has been surrounded by mass advertising and supported by a cross-country tour. Nonetheless, Swollen Members have attained these accomplishments through their own integrity, dedication, hard work and perseverance. That's right, they're independent.

Mad Child is quick to point out that "having our own label (Battle Axe Records) and working out distribution deals allows us pure creative control, as well as financial control. We get to choose where our promotional and marketing dollars get spent. So, we're in the position that we can re-coup our costs."

"However, the first and foremost important goal of Battle Axe Records is that we never compromise our creative integrity. We appreciate getting distribution deals. But regardless, we stay true to our roots and stand beside our music 110%. The same way we did when we first started making music."

Despite having three videos in rotation on Much Music, Mad Child feels it is very important that everyone know that Swollen Members is "still an underground group. Just now more people know about us, and our music is more easily accessible. There is a formula to making music that can be played on the radio. We have figured out a formula that you can follow that will generate music that is easily accepted by the ear."

Their sophomore album, Bad Dreams, fits Mad Child's description to a tee. It combines their unique underground style with impressive auditory appeal, to generate a very satisfying album. Mad Child and Prevail both provide very distinct vocals and lyrics, which complement each other amazingly well. In fact, when Prevail's lightning speed flow occasionally lets loose on a track, captivation will be the state of your mind.

Bad Dreams is a very complete album. It features production from some of the tightest underground producers including The Alchemist, Nucleus, Rob The Viking, Evidence and Kemo. And all these producers value top quality scratching, so the album also yields way for the skills of DJ Babu and DJ Revolution.

Bad Dreams also abounds with a fresh and unique hip-hop style that is characteristic of Swollen Members. The key factor in the uniqueness of their style could be that Mad Child grew up listening to "hardcore music like Black Flag and Circle Jerks", while Prevail grew up listening to heavy metal.

Regardless, Bad Dreams produces a large number of potential hits, catchy choruses, tantalizing beats and lyrical lines with mind-stick potential. The most amazing beat was produced by Nucleus on the up-pace, in your face, 'Anthrax Island'. Rob The Viking counters this attack by producing the pristinely crisp and eerie, 'The Reflection.' 'Ventilate' is the most compelling and mind-bending track, as both emcees rip one another apart. In fact, the only tracks that didn't attain all-star status were "Full Contact" (which sounded too similar too the Beatnuts), "Total Package" and the only saving grace for "Burns and Scars" and "Poker Face" were their choruses.

Bad Dreams is one of the best albums that I have ever heard. The independence of Swollen Members yields a creative and original style on this album, which shines like sun through a magnifying glass.

Prevail reiterates that "the bottom line is about making music that we feel happy about and getting it out to as many people as possible. That's it. Plain and simple. If you don't do that as an artist, you're cheating yourself out of your creative potential." Without a doubt, Bad Dreams is true to this statement. It is definitely an album worth picking up!