I’ve been a fan of unconventional music for some time now, especially heavy unconventional music. Maybe it’s attributed to my dissatisfaction of the predictable, formulaic, and overplayed, but whatever it is, I just love music that doesn’t fall into neatly defined buckets. If you're also into genre-bending music that’s on the heavier side, then stick around, as I'll let you in on some of the heaviest releases that bend, break, and redefine genres!
KIL KROOK (ft. Sinizter) – “INFERNO”
If there was ever a song that could unite phonk, metal, and hip-hop fans together this is it. The track seamlessly blends genres with Sinizter delivering his signature fiery rap and ominous vocal fry over KIL KROOK’s phonk-metal beats. Perhaps the song’s only drawback is its length – it’s just under two and a half minutes long, leaving us wanting more. Brevity notwithstanding, one thing’s for sure though, KIL KROOK has successfully, again, taken phonk into metal territory with a phonk-metal banger that leaves us putting it on repeat.
PVRIS (ft. Tommy Genesis & Alice Longyu Gao) – “BURN THE WITCH”
For all intents and purposes, BURN THE WITCH is PVRIS’ attempt to challenge the status quo of a male-dominated music industry. From writing to engineering, the song features an all-female team throughout its production. Although Lyndsey Gunnulfsen envisioned the song to fundamentally be a fun project for female creatives to let loose and experiment, it is a true female-empowerment song. In combining slick trap beats, muddy distorted guitar tones, feminist-driven lyrics, and abrasive vocals, PVRIS, Tommy Genesis, and Alice Longyu Gao have given us a timeless female-empowerment anthem transcending genres.
ROMES – “ERASED”
Since they stepped onto the music scene in 2016 with their debut EP, Believe, ROMES has gotten the ultimate makeover. Beginning as a band known for making catchy radio-friendly indie-pop tunes, they have arguably become the de facto successor to Nine Inch Nails if there ever was one. There’s no better proof of this than with ERASED, their industrial monster of a track that channels Nine Inch Nails’ energy, spirit, and style through and through. With a frenzy of distorted riffs and layered vocal delivery to match, it virtually has the same bells and whistles as Getting Smaller with the exception that it’s the high-intensity upgrade.
Daedric (ft. Dal Av) – “Racing the Parallel”
This is quite possibly, hands down, the heaviest Daedric song to date. That’s saying a lot considering that Daedric has carved out a reputation for herself as one of the heavy queens of modern-day metal. Her brutal screams are so unrelenting here that it makes it easy to forget that she’s demonstrating the rest of her vocal range on this track. As the cherry on top, Dal Av’s metalcore riffs provide the quintessential assist to give the oomph the song needs to make it a metal classic.
Calva Louise – “Oportunista”
You know a song is an instant banger when it sets off with an early hook. The moment you hear Jess Allanic scream “I wanna call you Oportunista!” several seconds into the song, you know you’re in for something good. Not only does Oportunista start off strong, but Calva Louise manages to carry that vicious energy to the end akin to an ignited detcord running its course. What’s more, the harmony between the vocals and experimental instrumentation really gives the song its defining edge.
Be on the lookout, as I'll update you with more music that comes my way!
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