One common theme in the current music landscape that we can appreciate is the movement away from confining and defining artists by genre. This is especially common in electronic music, with artists all over the map working outside of genre restrictions. With artists like Mija pioneering "Fk a Genre" as their mantra, the artists are aiming to bring the focus back to the music itself. As a writer, it's challenging and almost ironic to discuss opinions on a track without reverting to labels and attributing sounds to specific genres. What makes a track stand out all in all these days, is formulating a hybrid sound. Whether it may be jarring or not, tapping into that cornucopia of inspirations leads to game changing music.
Today, EARMILK premieres an exciting collaboration from NIGHTOWLS and Sullivan King, two up and coming electronic artists. NIGHTOWLS has come out with some killer tracks that dabble in filthy bass house sounds that merge groove and grit, and Sullivan King stands out as the sole metal mogul of electronic music, crafting audibly unique and powerful tracks. Together, the two release "Cardboard Castles" via Pantheon, which carries menacing sound that combines the energies of electro and bass music through metal elements.
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Considering my musical phases throughout my youth, "Cardboard Castles" has resonated with me in multiple ways. As a Canadian pre-teen, I grew up listening to more alternative forms of music, with my 2GB iPod nano staples ranging from Canadian post-hardcore classics like Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats and Boys Night Out. It wasn't until recently that I opened myself up to electronic music of all forms and found a love in the complex creativity and technicalities of the art form. After analyzing my musical history in recent times, I feel I've found the common link between the angsty post-hardcore tunes I once listened to and the head-thrashing bass music I consume today. Whether it be screamo or metal, dubstep or bass house, all styles have an undeniable enigma that easily induces movement and energy within a crowd of people.
"Cardboard Castles" begins with classic electro melodies over clunking percussions. Eventually the electric guitar wrangles it's way into the track with boisterous screams from Sullivan King. The drop transitions into a choppy dubstep infused cut, that bolts listeners into the hardcore marriage of opposing sounds. Together, NIGHTOWLS and Sullivan King create a perfect bridging of melodic aggression through a metal inspired blueprint dipped in a fat dose of electronic chaos.
Connect with NIGHTOWLS: Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Sullivan King: Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter
