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We’re living in a world where genres are becoming progressively meaningless. Thanks to the advent of the MP3 and streaming age everyone listens to everything and the music actually being made is becoming more interesting, reckless and experimental as a result. One of the bands who genuinely get that these barriers between tribes are breaking down is a British and Australian band called Pendulum. These guys made the quite frankly genius realisation that the aggression and intensity of a heavy metal how isn’t that far removed from the anything goes anarchy of a rave, and decided to make music that combined the two extremes as best they could.
The band began with Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, two musicians who’d performed in a number of heavy metal bands between them. Both men were already fans of most forms of electronica, but only Swire knew how to create it on his laptop. So while he and McGrillen were playing in the band Xygen together, he decided to teach McGrillen how to make drum and bass tunes using only basic production software. The duo found that they had a lot of chemistry creating music together and formed Pendulum as a DJ act, but soon after they began performing in clubs together they were joined by Paul Harding to make the nascent band a trio.
2003 saw the release of their first single “Vault”, and with that they were signed to Breakbeat Kaos, a record label based in London, England. Riding a wave of genuine hype for their sound and their apocalyptic live shows, they released their debut album “Hold Your Colour” in 2005, which charted in the U.K and was a genuine hit in Australia, being certified Gold with aplomb. With their burgeoning success, the trio expanded to a sextet in order to perform with a full band, drafting in a guitarist, drummer and MC while Swire sung lead vocals, McGrillen played the bass guitar and Harding stayed behind a set of decks.
Ever since then, the band have been one of the most impressive live bands around. Three years into their career and they were able to play enormous shows at Glastonbury, T In The Park, Bestival and Download Festivals along with their own headline concerts at venues like the 12’000 capacity Wembley Arena. They also saw a great degree of commercial success, with their third album “Immersion” peaking at number one on the U.K album charts and going platinum in the same country. Their singles “Granite” and “Watercolour” were top ten hits there as well, and though they might be on hiatus currently, you can bet that when they return they’ll still be blowing the roof off every venue they play. Highly recommended.
Both Rietsch and Wagner have been active as producers since 2002 yet they formed the duo now known as Camo & Krooked after meeting at one of Rietsch's gigs in 2007. Their first collaboration was the track 'Play It' from Camo's 2007 single 'Drop It' and things simply escalated from there.
The real turning point for the duo can be traced back to the release of 2010 EP 'Edge of Mind' which received international support from huge renowned DJs such as Pendulum and Grooverider. They picked up the accolade of Best Newcomer DJs at the 2010 Drum & Bass Arena Awards and their reputation on the scene appeared to be cemented as one of the most exciting new acts.
They continued to experiment with a minimal techno and house music sound and released another EP entitled 'Pulse Of Time' which gained support from further celebrated artists including Andy C, Subfocus and High Contrast. 'Cross The Line' was released in the UK in 2011 and achieved moderate commercial success, breaking the top 200 of the albums chart. It was the duo's relentless appearances on the festival circuit that summer which helped build their fan base substantially and brought their music to new audiences.
They released the follow-up 'Zeitgeist' in 2013 and have continued to develop new material and sounds. They have also remixed music for a high calibre of artist including London Grammar, Lana Del Rey and even Jefferson Airplane. The future appears to be very exciting for the young duo as their reputation and skill mounts at a lightning pace.
Zomboy is the stage name of Joshua Mellody (A name which in and of itself sounds like a stage name), who could become a poster boy for the way that music is released and careers are made in this modern age. Thanks to the internet and fast improving technology, it’s possible to create professional sounding music in one’s own bedroom, however, that’s not to say that it’s simple. Mellody cut his teeth in the U.S working in sound engineering at a recording studio and recording many different bands and artists. He also gained a cult following with some electro covers he released as Place Your Bet$ but his career didn’t truly take off until he moved back to his native country.
That was where Mellody used his experience in both songwriting and recording to create “Organ Donor”, a track that would get him signed to Never Say Die Records in 2011. His debut E.P, named after its lead track, would go on to be a massive success on the Beatport charts, staying in the top five for 8 weeks straight. Just like that, his music had been released by Ministry of Sound and Warner Brothers recordings by the end of the year. A lot of people could be understandably cynical about this, I mean, if anyone could create and release music on their own and in their spare time why should anyone get famous because of it?
However, Mellody is a perfect example of this as well, since he’s become a success thanks to his relentless work ethic and sheer talent rather than any luck or good fortune. He’s released E.P’s at a rate of knots and done official remixes for Skrillex, Modestep and Hadouken!, and in 2014, his debut album, entitled “The Outbreak” was also released. His high energy, dubstep influenced beats are going to take over the world in very short order, and chances are he hasn’t even reached his prime yet. To call Mellody one to watch is to sell him very short, but he still comes highly recommended.
With over a decade of touring stages all over the globe, Modestep have gained a reputation for putting on a show like no other. With the high energy & aggression of a rock band, and the eye-rattling frequencies of a bass-heavy electronic act; Modestep have left a lasting impression on such legendary stages as Glastonbury, Coachella, Reading Festival, EDC, Ultra, Lost Lands, Summer Sonic & notably to a headline crowd of 750,000 at Woodstock.
With two albums under their belt (including the chart topping ‘Evolution Theory’), two seminal EP’s on the Disciple Records label and with tracks & collaborations racking up hundreds of millions of plays; they show no signs of slowing down. With a third album on the way, and a new live-show to match; Modestep set to continue dominating stages across the globe.
Rife with immense offerings and an unmatched energy, Pendulum have usurped Prodigy as the must-see dance/rock fusion act. The Australian and British six piece may have parted ways a few years back, but they still regularly dole out DJ sets, and the smart money would be on a reunion at some point in the next few years. Between 2007-2010, they ruled the roost as go-to party-igniters, winning over both hard-rocking metal camps and the drum'n'bass fanatics seeking sonic pulses. Pendulum fused the furore and aggression of metal with the dance-poised nature of DNB, creating a kind of synth-thrash that was impossible to remain still through. The sextet riddle their sets with high-octane, ADD tunes: “Blood Sugar”, “Tarantula”, “Granite”, “Propane Nightmares” are some highlights, but every track they churn out is brimming with blue-Smartie energy. Moshing is commonplace. Guitarist/producer Rob Swire's playing is a mesmerising sight, if you can catch a glimpse at all, as he performs on a 'guitar-like' MIDI controller (basically a synth in the shape of a rawkin' axe). Dance, wiggle, boogie, jive, pogo, lurch, drop – move to your heart's content; if you don't chances are Pendulum will force you to. You'll leave bruised, battered and scarred – cherish the blemishes as souvenirs of the pure adrenaline.
I’ve seen Camo & Krooked, an Austrian drum and bass duo perform around the UK at festivals and smaller club venues, and it’s safe to say they have remained one of my favorite DNB acts of the last few years. Ever since I heard debut 2011 singles ‘All Fall Down’ and ‘Cross The Line’, with the latter featuring the infectious sing-a-long vocals of Ayah Marar, I’ve made sure to catch them whenever possible. Although they haven’t broken into the top of the charts as of yet, the duo who are signed to Hospital Records and are made up of Reinhard “Camo” Rietsch and Markus “Krooked” Wagner have a firm fan base around the world. They’ve played shows around the world and always give 110% to their live and DJ sets. When I’ve seen them, the audience are always up for it, happily bouncing up and down to album tracks like ‘Watch It Burn’ while the floor boards rattle beneath them and their hearts pound from the heavy bass beats. BUT, they also like to mix up their sets, not afraid to defer from their trademark drum and bass sound, with trap hits like Baauer’s hit ‘Roll Up’ and the rock/dubstep mix of Modestep’s ‘Show Me A Sign’. Camo & Krooked are one of the best dance acts I’ve seen live, go see them now!
The music of Belgian born DJ and producer Eptic has taken the lucky musician to all corners of the globe to share his anthemic and involving live show. It would seem there are always new artists emerging out of Europe's fruitful and exciting dance scene yet Michaël Bella has stood out from the crowds with his bass heavy tones. The first tracks from EPs such as 'Slime City' and 'Like A Boss' cut through the over saturation of the genre and made himself heard above all of the noise.
A cult fanbase emerged in Europe and the States and it is those underground fans who fill the venue tonight waiting for Eptic patiently as his decks glow in an ominous purple colour. The lights suddenly drop and screens illuminate with trippy, fragmented visuals that look like multiple pieces of glass shattering. The bass comes in and threatens to bring down the building's structure with its over emphasis and Michael appears. Mixing at insane speeds from the offset, the whole crowd dance along to the extended intros and the show has truly got underway. He holds them expertly as he mixes and acts as hype man all at once. This guy is going places so just try and keep up.
Zomboy is becoming one of those big name dubstep artists that any dub head needs to check out. He brings such a high-intensity brostep vibe that keeps you jamming the entire set. You can always expect to hear those Never Say Die bangers and also a lot of Circus tracks as well.
If you have ever heard a zomboy set from maybe EDC, or Beyond Wonderland, his sets don't range too far off from that. Recently, he started playing to a bigger, more diverse crowd, with all of the festivals and different tours he has appeared on in select cities, such as Excision's executioner tour in early 2013.
You can also expect to hear a little mainstream as well; I heard him drop animals once. With his new album coming out called "The Outbreak", and the single he previewed off of it titled "WTF?!", I think we can expect to see zomboy branch out a little further than what he's known for and dip into some other genres, kind of like he did with his last EP.
With that being said, I believe this is a very exciting time to witness him live. I have seen zomboy five times and have yet to be disappointed. He is just starting a North America tour, so if he comes to a city near you, definitely look into it.
Masked, menacing, madness. Those three words could sum up Modestep’s whole career up until this point. However, it’s doubly accurate when applied to their live shows, as the London based electronic rock band have been seen as the natural successor to bands like Pendulum and even the Prodigy with their frantic, ferociously heavy mix of hard rock and electronica. Arguably the way they’ve earned such lofty comparisons isn’t necessarily through their music. Their brand of metallic dubstep is defiantly their own, with singles like Show Me A Sign and Sunlight showing them off as talented songwriters in their own right. However, what truly puts them in the lineage of the previously mentioned bands is the way that such a proudly electronic band can utterly crush it in the live arena. They have a reputation of slaying every crowd they find themselves in front of from clubs to festivals, and earning legions of followers every time they play. A live show of there is a lot like a live band playing a DJ set, with each song flowing into the other seamlessly, dispersed with covers and remixes of their songs that build and build on each devastating breakdown and drop. It’s truly a sight to behold, and a strong argument for what the future of alternative music could sound like. Personally, if the future’s going to sound this good and be this ridiculously exciting live, then I think we can safely say that we’re all in very capable hands.