Mac Montgomery, better known to us as DENM, brings his Southern-Cali reggae rock (with a little bit of hip-hop) on his new album Hot N Glassy. DENM has been making music since 2015, and while it took some time for him to start getting noticed, he is off to a huge start with his previous album Slum Beach Denny and now this latest jam.

I had never heard of him until I traveled out west to photograph Cali Vibes in 2022. My first thought when I saw the lineup for Cali Vibes was, “Who is DENM?” My first thought once he started performing at Cali Vibes was, “This dude has a pretty cool vibe and sound; I have to check his music out.”

The memory I took away from that performance was a little strange, but during his set (early afternoon in the California sun), his guitar overheated and stopped playing mid-set. He told the crowd what was happening, but as a true entertainer, he just kept on singing while the band kept playing. After grabbing another guitar, he finished off the set with no other issues. It was a great performance.

I started checking out his music and liked what I heard, especially when he released Slum Beach Party Vol. 1 with Landon McNamara. He has mentioned his influences are the Marley's, Chris Cornell, Bradley Nowell, Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz, and Kendrick Lamar. While listening to Hot N Glassy, you can really hear and feel these influences. It’s some good stuff.

The album starts off with two dope hip-hop-influenced tunes: “Califas2” and “Little Love.” They are more than just hip-hop, but that West Coast vibe and beat hit hard on both. “Califas2” features B-Real, who delivers a sweet rhyme, and that G-Funk groove flowing through is so nice. “Little Love” is a little slower but hits with a nice beat and a sweet flow from DENM. I’m already loving this album, and we’re only two songs in.

Benny Ranks joins DENM on “Cool Down,” which features a great guitar throughout the jam. DENM sounds great lyrically on this track, and Benny has a dope flow.

“Wild West” is next and is a really interesting track. It kind of takes me back to the early ’80s and a Cure sound. It may just be me, but that’s the vibe I get—which is not a bad thing. This upbeat song stands alone on this album, but I like it.

Next up is another good upbeat song, “Stoned Again.” I like his flow in this one, and you just can’t stop your head from grooving to it.

My buddy Heath’s favorite track is next: “Ride Slow.” This is a slow, chill track—the kind of song you just sit back and smoke a fat joint to (I wonder why Heath likes this one? LOL).

“I’ll Be Gone,” featuring Slightly Stoopid, comes at us next. This is a dope Southern Cali groove and beat. Great song, with DENM killing it on vocals and Kyle bringing that Stoopid flow to make this song a banger. The acoustic guitars on this one hit!

Jesse James Pariah joins DENM on “Wandering Soul.” They first hooked up over the pandemic for an impromptu session with Landon McNamara that blossomed into Slum Beach Party Vol. 1. The two of them work really well together, and hopefully, they will continue their collaborations.

Another track I really love is next: “OK Not Alright.” This one brings a nice beat and groove throughout, but it’s all about DENM and his flow and lyrics. This song is about doing your best to keep it together and trying to stay positive. It hits for me personally. This is a captivating alternative pop-punk anthem, but you still get those reggae elements.

Pepper and Kaleo Wassman join DENM on the next track, “Where I’m Goin.” Another great upbeat tune, it’s a song that keeps you going—and keeps DENM going:
“No one said that growing up would be this hard/Yeah, life’s a gamble and I got some shitty cards/I don’t know where I’m going/But I think I’ll get there soon/Hard times keep me growing/But I think they’ll be done soon.”

Kaleo hits with a dope lyrical flow that takes this song to another level. I really like the DENM/Pepper vibe.

My favorite track is up next: “Be Mine.” The song starts off with the “Don’t Worry Be Happy” whistling and then comes in hard with a nice beat and a slowed-down whistle floating through the song. I love DENM’s flow in this song, and the lyrics are perfect. This song has been on repeat, and my head won’t stop bopping up and down:
“When you talk about your problems, I default to want to fix them/It’s probably best to hug and just shut my mouth and listen/Baby, all you wanted was to tell me about your day/It wasn’t till the morning I knew what I should say.”

DENM slows it down a bit for us on “Fool,” a ballad with a sweet little groove. Great acoustic guitar in this one, and DENM once again sounds great.

The album finishes off with “Swimming Lessons,” another slow tune about keeping your head above water and doing what you need to do to persevere for your loved ones:
“Cuz life’s got good times with a little bit of pain/Hard times but you see through the rain so/I’m takin’ swimming lessons/So I can see the blessings/When the waves come crashing on down I can.”

This may be the best song vocally for DENM and really shows a different side—a good side—to him.

What can I say about this album? When I heard DENM was coming out with a new album, I was intrigued and interested in listening. But after listening to it a few times through, I think it’s a really good collection of dope songs. DENM hit on this album; these tracks and the lyrics hit.

He is a rising star in that American-reggae-rock-punk-hip-hop genre that takes us in many different listening directions. He fits right into that huge genre, and with this album, bigger, more seasoned bands (in different genres) should be all over DENM and asking him to tour with them. He’s got a great following that is only going to get larger and larger.

This album has a little something for everyone, no matter what your music genre go-to is. I thought about the album title, Hot N Glassy, and wondered if it describes the album or DENM. I think it’s a little of both—and in a good way. The lyrics give us an insight into who DENM really is, and I think the title fits perfectly. He is learning, growing, and staying positive about the future. A bright future.