Denver's Hostage Situation has quickly become one of the most talked-about acts in bass music, and with good reason. Since forming in 2021, the trio has built a reputation for "taking crowds hostage" with their high-energy performances and versatile approach to dubstep, riddim, and bass house.
Now, with their sophomore album Hostile Frequencies finally here, they're ready to showcase the full breadth of their artistry.
The 20-track opus is a comprehensive statement from a group that refuses to be boxed into any single genre. From atmospheric intros to crushing drops, emotionally-driven vocals to festival-ready bangers, 'Hostile Frequencies' takes listeners on a journey that mirrors the intensity of their live shows.
We caught up with Hostage Situation to get the stories behind every track on the album. Here's what they had to say:
1. Hostile Frequencies
Hostage Situation: "This track we wanted to make a big statement, being the intro track for the album. This is an avenue and a side of Hostage that hasn't been showcased before and will get people excited to listen through all of the variation through the album."
2. Burn For You
Hostage Situation: "This track is such a big moment with big chord swells, and us recording our own vocals for the track. 'Burn For You' becomes an instant classic on the dancefloor."
The lead single from the album, "Burn For You," showcases the trio's bold move into vocal performance. The track has already made waves, with artists like ATLiens and GorillaT playing it out at festivals before its official release.
3. The Device
Hostage Situation: "This track was super fun to make, pulling inspiration from old dubstep sets that we have seen in the mid-2010s. It's a cool homage to those classic gritty dubstep sounds."
Released as the album's second single, "The Device" demonstrates Hostage Situation's ability to pay tribute to the genre's roots while pushing it forward with innovative production techniques.
4. Panic Attack
Hostage Situation: "This is the second house-style track we have made and gives energy that is second to none in the club."
The third single from the album, "Panic Attack," marked Hostage Situation's continued exploration of bass house. According to the trio, it's "an extremely high-energy bass house song that always gets the entire crowd moving and jumping around" and has become a highlight moment in their live sets.
5. Skoolin w/ Chibs
Hostage Situation: "Working with Chibs is such a surreal moment since we have looked up to him essentially since we got into electronic music, so it's very fun to see this project come to fruition."
6. Problem w/ Dream Takers, Fraxure
Hostage Situation: "I really like this track because it's a bunch of happy accidents that fell into a full song. It started off as all of us hanging out in the studio and riffing on this Travis Scott type beat that we made, and it felt like all the pieces just fell into place perfectly."
7. Backfire w/ Yoto
Hostage Situation: "This was a super fun one to make with the homies over at Yoto. Very heavy riddim tune to get the mosh pit going."
8. Freak It
Hostage Situation: "We have always been fans of this new wave of US UKG-type songs, and it was exciting to explore new grooves and new energy with this track."
9. GO NUTZ
Hostage Situation: "'GO NUTZ' instantly transports me to the most lit pool party of all time, and the way that we sprinkle in dubstep elements with these groovy drums. I think it's something very refreshing for the project."
10. Jasmine
Hostage Situation: "I've always had this soft spot for almost love song dubstep, so being able to bring back those elements of where I started in electronic music was really kind of humbling and a good trip down memory lane."
11. Low Key
Hostage Situation: "This one is a more vibey melodic track with some heavier influences sprinkled in. I think this track will catch the ear of a wide variety of EDM listeners."
12. Offline
Hostage Situation: "Playing around with top lines and seeing how hard it is to make simple vocals have impact was a very eye-opening experience on this track. Definitely one for the ladies on this one."
13. Dancefloor Fire
Hostage Situation: "It's no surprise that Eptic influenced this track a ton, and really studying how to incorporate empty space to make more of an impact with patterns was really fun to play around with."
14. Don't Speak
Hostage Situation: "This one is heavy! A mix of inspiration from riddim, trap, and tear out helped make this one. This is a very fun track to play out live and get the crowd moving (maybe angry too)."
15. Mind Over Matter
Hostage Situation: "Not sure how many mid-tempo tracks we will make in the future, but taking influence from Gesaffelstein, Rezz, and a lot of the old acid tracks from back in the day was fun to give it a fresh 2025 revamp."
16. Seen It All (Feat. MACY)
Hostage Situation: "Funny enough, MACY is Twopercent's sister, and it was such a small world moment when we started working together. The way that her voice glides so smooth on these top lines is just beautiful and really complements the track well."
17. Fly
Hostage Situation: "Oh geez, I was trying to have a Fred Again moment and really tug on the heartstrings while having just a classic dance track. Personally, one of the more fun tracks to make on this album."
18. Bring The Vibe
Hostage Situation: "While this isn't the heavy-hitting Hostage Situation that everyone's come to expect, I think throughout the course of the night the versatility really shines through on this one and you can really just groove and vibe."
19. Feel You
Hostage Situation: "I remember listening to Nikita the Wicked, specifically the track 'Like Me,' and thought it was really cool how at the drop there's not a lot of intricate synth work going on but still hits super hard. I think that's what makes 'Feel You' have such an impactful, almost introspective energy to the drop."
20. The End
Hostage Situation: "I had noticed that DJ sets just sort of end and thought that it would be a really cool idea to have this very euphoric full circle track to play at the end of sets to almost make you feel proud and accomplished by the end of the set."
Hostile Frequencies represents the evolution of Hostage Situation as artists. It's a comprehensive showcase of what the Denver trio is capable of when they refuse to be confined by genre boundaries. The album's diversity reflects the varied influences that shaped the group, spanning from M83 to Subtronics to Pink Floyd.
The trio is currently on their extensive 'Hostile Frequencies' Tour, bringing these tracks to life at venues across North America. With upcoming stops at iconic venues like VICE in Seattle, Gods & Monsters in San Francisco, and Warehouse on Watts in Philadelphia, fans will get to experience the full "hostage" treatment that has made the group's live shows legendary.
From their humble beginnings playing illegal desert raves in Arizona to now headlining premier venues coast-to-coast, Hostage Situation's trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. Hostile Frequencies is a definitive statement of where they've been and where they're going, a 20-track journey that cements their position as one of the most exciting acts in bass music today.
Stream Hostile Frequencies now on all platforms.
Catch Hostage Situation on tour:
- October 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Project Pierpont
- October 10 – Seattle, WA – VICE
- October 11 – San Francisco, CA – Gods & Monsters
- October 23 – Las Vegas, NV – We All Scream
- November 14 – Toronto, ON – Palais Royale
- November 22 – Des Moines, IA – The Secret Location
- November 28 – Reno, NV – Cypress
- December 5 – Detroit, MI – Elektricity
- December 6 – Philadelphia, PA – Warehouse on Watts
- December 13 – Cleveland, OH – Mercury Lounge
Connect with Hostage Situation: Instagram
