Browsing Tag

dark trap

Brikcs shattered boundaries and entered innovation’s nirvana with ‘King’

Posted on 17 April 2024

Brikcs, a visionary from the ethereal edges of music’s evolving landscape, delivered a profound auditory experience in his latest single, King. With a foundation laid by a Mogwai-meets-Portishead neo-classic intro of eloquent keys and phantasmically distorted vocal notes, the track boldly transitions into the dark territories of trap. If you went down the rabbit hole and instead of finding wonderland you entered innovation’s nirvana and met your demons, your trip would come a close visceral second to hitting play on King.

The artistic juxtaposition in King — between harsh, ensnaring bars and the enduring non-lexical harmonies that echo the transcendent terrain of Sigur Rós — crafts a captivating portal to an aural realm defined by authenticity. The single thrives on a blend of ornate classical notes and reverberating electronic effects, creating an installation of unparalleled emotional intensity.

The lyrical assertion of autonomy challenges listeners to disintegrate preconceived labels with every bar dropped. Acting as a nod to how the world attempts to shape us into archetypes, Brikcs resists them all, violently shaking them into the ether of this masterpiece.

Brikcs, an Icelandic multi-instrumentalist now based in Copenhagen, eschews easy classification, melding the raw energy of underground clubs with the refined grandeur of opera houses. King encapsulates his complex musical journey through haunting pianos, ethereal vocals, cerebral rap, and an electro-orchestral crescendo.

Accompanied by an experimental short film, directed by Vasco Alexandre and shot at ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, the track is not only a music release but a cinematic event, currently making waves in film festivals worldwide.

King was officially released on March 22nd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slip into the dark hip-hop abyss with my•escy’s latest harbingering hit, Fallen Fruit

Posted on 30 March 2024

my•escy’s latest single, ‘Fallen Fruit‘ is a gateway into the nefarious underbelly of dark alt-hip-hop. The track stands as a formidable force in the genre, showcasing a blend of jarring reverberation, aural annihilation, and lyrical aggression that captivates and cuts deep.

The sonics of ‘Fallen Fruit’ are akin to synthesised war horns resonating over a trap beat, creating an atmosphere that is both oppressive and exhilarating. It’s a soundscape that plunges listeners into a nightmarish landscape, yet there’s an undeniable allure in its darkness. The vocal hooks in the track are a masterstroke, evoking a sense of what might have been if Andre 5000 had ventured into the darker realms of hip-hop alongside Saul Williams.

Despite its artfully intentional disquietness, ‘Fallen Fruit’ is undeniably infectious. The hard-hitting, visceral melodies linger long after the outro, haunting the listener with their intensity. ‘Fallen Fruit’ is a testament to the power of dark alt-hip-hop’s ability to convey complex emotions and create a sonic experience that is both unsettling and utterly compelling.

Stream the single on SoundCloud and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Zel? darkened the corridors of trap with his indomitably infectious release, Swag Musik

Posted on 11 March 2024

Knowing exactly how to make his flows infectious, his hooks sharp, and his beats pop, Zel? staked his claim as one of the most seminal up-and-coming artists of his generation with his 2024 LP, Mode de vie.

The standout single, Swag Musik, is an urban autograph of sheer innovation; by darkening the corridors of trap, injecting the indomitable conviction of old-school hip-hop and working in RnB aesthetics around the heavy basslines, the Maryland-hailing recording artist delivered a hit that doesn’t just live up to the hype, it leaves you hyped through exposure to Zel?’s cunningly meticulous alchemic presence on the airwaves.

After studying beats and music and consistently staying on his grind, Zel?’s music became a cultivated and twisted take on the familiar; menacing and jarringly magnetic in equal measure, Swag Musik is everything it says on the tin; the shadowy noir-esque hit is a harbingering sign of even bigger things to come for Zel?

Stream Swag Musik on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Denacus delivered a trap metal manifesto of mental disquietness with ‘Dark Days’

Posted on 3 January 2024

‘Dark Days’ is the latest nefariously infectious trap metal track from the up-and-coming artist and enigma Denacus, who is set to snarl his way up from the underground with his darkly domineering edge. With a sound as scintillating as Wage War and $uicideboy$, Denacus emerges as a pioneer in the burgeoning trap metal genre, one capable of crafting a visceral, haunting experience that encapsulates the essence of raw emotional turmoil.

The artist, hailing from a humble farm near Moree, NSW, Australia, brings a unique blend of Ragecore and Horrorcore to the table, elevating the track beyond mere musical expression.

What sets Dark Days apart is its ability to resonate deeply with listeners who have experienced the suffocating grip of mental anguish. Denacus delves into the depths of his troubled past, marked by depression, bullying, and recurrent admissions to psychiatric wards. His journey from a struggling teenager to an experimental recording artist is palpable in every beat and lyric of the song.

The track is a short but intense journey through the darkest corridors of the human mind. It’s a macabre piece that clings to your consciousness long after the last note fades. The lyrics, focusing on themes like nihilism, vengeance, and existential dread, are not just words but a window into the artist’s soul.

Dark Days will be available to stream from January 3rd; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

my•escy has made his Avant-Garde horrorcore debut with ‘Milk Teeth’

Posted on 15 December 2023

my•escy’s debut avant-garde hip-hop single, Milk Teeth, emerges as a hauntingly innovative masterpiece, setting a new precedent in the genre. Hailing from Venice, California, my•escy infuses his music with a unique blend of post-punk and industrial influences. This track is a bold introduction to his dark, visceral style, showcasing his ability to craft a nightmarish auditory experience.

Milk Teeth begins with a deceptively playful intro, a jaunty address that lures the listener into a false sense of security. This quickly gives way to a darker, trappy aesthetic, a stark contrast that is both jarring and intriguing. The track is imbued with horrorcore energy, its production, lyrics, and bars exuding a zany yet menacing vibe. my•escy’s skill in switching between the wild insanity of Insane Clown Posse and his own snarled, charismatic bars creates a captivating dichotomy that ensnares the listener.

The track’s production is a gritty synthesis of macabre imagery and sonic synthetics, transcending mere sound to offer a full-fledged experience. my•escy’s use of ominous synth-soaked beats creates an atmosphere that is both oppressive and exhilarating. The lyrics weave a narrative that is as compelling as it is unsettling, ensuring that Milk Teeth lingers in the mind long after the last note has faded.

Stream Milk Teeth on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

3NSTY haunted the trap genre with his latest single, rip/vip

Posted on 9 August 2023
https://soundcloud.com/prodsne/wake-n-bake?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1&si=4C6C9B9C1D7946469FB721EE9468A6AD&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Bringing an eerie baroque, and almost honkytonk, touch to the trap genre is the latest single, rip/vip, from artist and enigma 3NSTY, who has gained a cult following for the resonance in his lyricism that predominantly traverses themes of alienation and depression.

With the horror-esque sound effects atop the artfully dark piano keys beneath his mumbled with relatable malaise rap bars, the track drips visceral melancholy as it ingeniously explores the juxtaposition between the two anacronyms. Anyone with a proclivity towards ennui and dejection will know that the two statuses are equally desirable when you’re psychologically scraping the barrel for serotonin.

rip/vip is now available to stream on SoundCloud along with the LP from which it was taken, Insomnia. 

Follow 3NSTY on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Clint Cash speaks for the financially disenfranchised in his latest dark trap single, Ballin

Posted on 22 September 2022

Jackson, Tennessee-hailing hip hop artist Clint Cash has allowed music to take him from rock bottom to a place of passion and creativity. His fourth self-produced album, Cold Heart, captures much of his struggle, especially the standout single, Ballin.

The dark and atmospheric trappy beats in Ballin reflect the extreme lows that he has endured as well as the lyrics which viscerally run through relatable struggles, with a focus on the difficulty of relationships with money when you’re contending with a scarcity of it. It’s a sombre single, but the overarching energy is nothing short of vindicating for anyone that could never relate to hip hop tracks that are braggadocios about lavish excess.

Ballin is now available to stream on YouTube.

Follow Clint Cash on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

George Bien – scared of planes w/ emily: Emotionally Raw, Sonically Ethereal Trap

Posted on 24 November 2021

Lil Peep left plenty of inspiration in his wake; a potent shot of it can be found in the latest single, scared of planes, by the up and coming alt hip hop artist, George Bien.

In the ambient and atmospheric track, the confessional lyricism stings as it resonates, but there’s no taking the catharsis out of the dreamy mellifluous grooves. George Bien has exactly what it takes to define the future of hip hop with his emotionally raw, sonically ethereal style that we can’t wait to hear more of. At 21-years old, the Santa Cruz-based newcomer has already proven his pioneer potential. He is a force to be reckoned with from here on out.

Scared of planes is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PARTYNXISE has released his pitch-black Avant Garde trap track, iREMEMBERu.

Posted on 26 October 2021

After making his 2021 debut, alt independent artist, PARTYNXISE, has continued to douse the airwaves with ethereal experimentalism; his latest single, iREMEMBERu, is a psychedelically dark feat of avant-garde trap pop that uses its extended prelude to set a chillingly sombre tone.

After the phantasmal whispers and droning ambient electronica, iREMEMBERu breaks into a glitchy feat of polyphonic trip-hop filled with modern trap textures and visceral emotion as PARTYNXISE runs through pained memories. Breakups can take us to pretty dark places, but the pitch-black atmosphere in iREMEBERu is matchless.

iREMEMBERu is available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jay Staxx goes interstellar with his latest hit, Cosmic

Posted on 13 August 2021

Jay Staxx’ domineeringly dark trap sound has been garnering plenty of hype since he made his debut with his new moniker in 2021. His recently released seminal single, Cosmic, is a trippy ethereal hit that serves as the perfect introduction to his playful and gritty lyrics, his deadpan candour, and his atmospheric beats.

Alongside working on his music, Staxx is also a co-founder at Loyalty over Royalty Records in San Diego. After the passing of his mother, Tameka Russell, in 2019, he returned to the music scene with even more determination to make an impression on the airwaves. Considering that he is now averaging over 67k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, it is safe to say his hunger for greatness is being sated. We couldn’t think of anyone more deserving.

Cosmic is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast