Browsing Tag

Alt Trap

I Passed Away serves a smorgasbord of 80’s Goth, 90’s Emo and Electro Alt Pop with ‘Brainwave’

Posted on 13 November 2020
I Passed Away

Starting off as a modern hyperpop dance/rock banger, ‘Brainwave’ showcases I Passed Away’s versatility, moving through 80’s goth, 90’s emo, and electro alt-pop disco crossover at the swelling instrumental middle eight breakdown.

There are elements of early 90’s alternative rock around the vocal production, coming across at times like a slightly more mellow Layne Stayley, but overall I Passed Away has a unique and instantly recognisable vocal sound. ‘Brainwave’ is a well-crafted piece, marrying solid, gripping melodies with catchy keyboard hooks, a driving bassline, and clean, crisp production. There are clearly influences of hip hop and ambient artists in ‘Brainwave’ too, along with the more obvious indie and emo tropes, but primarily I Passed Away has crafted a novel, individual, and mature piece of modern dance/pop crossover that bodes well for future releases.

Check out I Passed Away on Soundcloud and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

SixPortalz wraps their heartbreak around 808s in their Alt Indie Trap track “Welfed”

Posted on 1 November 2020

SixPortalz dropped their playfully pensive Alt Indie Trap hit Welfed on October 18th, they definitely made no bones about stamping down their evocatively nerdy signature style.

The raw volatility of the track may mean that Welfed isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But anyone looking for abrasively recognisable emotions wrapped up in a melodically lo-fi production will find plenty to get enamoured by with Welfed.

The track reveals intimate shame-laden thoughts which all too infrequently get projected back at us, but through their humility, SixPortalz unapologetically offered an olive branch of connection, an invitation to crawl out of the insecurity which romantic catastrophe left you lingering in. Additionally, any track with an Invader Zim reference is a winner in our book.

You can check out Welfed for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JAY DVRDEN’s latest release No Justice is a chilling Shoegaze-infused Trap attack on racial injustice

Posted on 6 July 2020

Alt Hip Hop artist JAY DVRDEN’s tracks always have an overwhelmingly profound effect. Naturally, their latest release “No Justice” featuring Rap artist Lil Rose TFB which chillingly alludes to the injustice revolving around the unforgivable number of black lives lost hit insanely hard.

JAY DVRDEN kept with their usual sludgy Grunge Trap style with No Justice. The angular cutting notes weave through the rattle of the 808s and vocals bleed into the mix just enough to find perfect synergy with the morose melodies.

The Trap artist’s ability to make nuances of Shoegaze carry the same mesmerising hypnotic draw as they do in Slowdive’s tracks makes JAY DVRDEN one of the most pioneering artist’s I’ve heard this year.

Aural fascination aside, No Justice is exactly the kind of track which we need more of right now. It grounds you in empathy and compassion for the victims of police brutality and charges you with the motivation to take a stand.

You can check out the official music video to No Justice which premiered on June 21st via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Hazel Effect has dropped their game-changing Emo Trap track White Gold Trim

Posted on 21 June 2020

American Emo Trap pioneer the Hazel Effect dropped their indulgently dark and stormy latest release White Gold Trim on June 14th. We’re already obsessed with it.

The infectiously visceral earworm kicks off with a teasing start before sliding into an anthemically fierce infusion of Emo and Trap. If there’s any track with the capacity to unite Pop Punk kids and New Wave Trap fans, it’s White Gold Trim.

As much as I enjoyed White Gold Trim hitting my ears at home through my headphones, it instantly made me wish that the angsty banger had first introduced itself on a sticky dancefloor with like-minded nihilists.

You can find the resonance in White Gold Trim for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Keep up to date with the artist’s latest releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare Your Trap Playlists for Zaiahthegod’s Latest Release “back then”

Posted on 7 June 2020
https://soundcloud.com/blackdawn1100/back-than

Zaiahthegod’s latest track “back then” has already amassed plenty of hype since it’s release in March. If you like your Tap lit, prepare for the scorching feat of pure urban flair which Zaiahthegod deftly crafted to make sure that anyone who has the pleasure of discovering it will feel as adrenalized as the beats.

With the rapid-fire Rap bars, the lyrical diction may not be overly clear on the first listen, yet, that just compels you to give back then repeat attention to soak up the lyrical wit which Zaiahthegod venomously spat into the mix.

You can check out Zaiahthegod’s latest single back then for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

King of Melancholic Trap JAY DVRDEN Has Spilt Grungy Alchemy Once More with their Latest Release

Posted on 3 June 2020

JAY DVRDEN left quite the lasting impression on us with their seminal single Sad Witch. Naturally, we were all too eager to emotively bruise ourselves once again with their latest release.

This time, JAY DVRDEN reworked Gracie Abrams’ hit single I Miss You, I’m Sorry. By contorting the soundscape into a beguilingly ethereal experience which will stay with you long after the short and bitter-sweet track has faded to a close and layering their own deeply connectable introspective lyrics on top of the track, he well and truly made the remix his own.

I’m not usually one for repetition within music, but the way he worked “where is my mind”  until it matched the iconic tone set by the Pixies was utterly ingenious.

You can check out the official video to JAY DVRDEN’s remix which premiered on May 15th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Escape the Media Mediocrity with Gucci Poet’s Latest Alt Pop Release “Fake News”

Posted on 3 June 2020

Breaking Alt Pop artist Gucci Poet has recently dropped their third album “Fake News”. If their approach to Alt Pop was any more ahead of the curve, flat-earthers would deny his existence.

Their unique infusion of Pop and Hip Hop is fiery fresh on each track on the album, yet, the title track is the perfect introduction to their lyrically witty, rhythmically fluid style.

Fake News is all about the vibe and the connection which the stylistically moody yet energetically playful track offers as it unravels with unbridled creative expression. Gucci Poet evidently isn’t one for paying mind to genre constraints. But even though their free-flowing tracks transcend the notion of genres, the accessibility of the track has been left unhindered. In short, if you like to keep track of the hottest up and coming talent, get them on your radar.

You can check out Gucci Poet’s latest album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Glock N9v – Elbow Grease: Bass-Dripping Experimental Trap

Posted on 8 May 2020
https://soundcloud.com/glockn9v/elbow-grease/s-SP0acs4YiEI

Fans of experimentally atmospheric New Wave Trap will definitely want to delve into the smooth bass-dripping mix “Elbow Grease” from up and coming Portland-based artist and producer Glock N9v.

Elbow Grease unfolds at an easy tempo which makes it all too easy to hook yourself into the instrumental and vocal melodic grooves which progress in tight synergy with one another. By the time the second verse hits, you’ll start to appreciate the hypnotic appeal of the stylistic mix.

Finding playlist-worthy Alt Trap which comes with an entrancingly ambient vibe while still packing an inventive punch doesn’t happen every day. Get Glock N9v on your radar, you won’t regret it.

You can check out Glock N9v’s track Elbow Grease for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lucky Swami – $wipe icard: Atmospherically Fresh Dark Hip Hop

Posted on 15 April 2020

Lucky Swami and Foolish G teamed up once more to create a darkly atmospheric feat of Hip Hop with their 2020 release $wipe icard.

If you’re a fan of Rap tracks which offer beats which are just as authoritative as the Rap bars, you’ll undoubtedly want to make $wipe icard a firm fixture on your playlists. It boasts old school lyrical conviction while making sure it is bang on trend with the polished bass-heavy Alt Trap beats.

There may be plenty of energy thrown into the ensnaring mix, but thanks to the easy melodic groove of the ominous track, it’s one you can easily slip into.

You can check out Lucky Swami’s tracks for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Grunge Trap Trailblazer Zlumpyy Has Dropped His Fiercest Track Yet with “Rude!”

Posted on 14 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/zlumpyyyyyyy/rude

Up and coming Trap artist Zlumpyy has created plenty of mould-breaking Trap hits in 2020, but the best introduction to their fiercely authentic style is undoubtedly their recently released aural storm Rude! produced by Mathiastyner.

By incorporating the same untameable angst as 90s Grunge pioneers into their adrenalized Trap mix, Rude! is as volatile as Trap gets. The track may be short, but it packs a convictive punch and you can practically taste the creative catharsis which it contains.

Zlumpyy’s invention of the Scream Trap genre may not be for the faint-hearted, but truly expressive rarely ever is.

You can check out Zlumpyy’s track Rude! along with the rest of their releases via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast