SLUMBERJACK Makes Impactful Monstercat Debut with SARAWAK
SLUMBERJACK has brought their dynamic bass sound to Vancouver-based Monstercat, and their first release with the label starts them off with a bang. SARAWAK is the Australian duo’s third EP and each track carries its own uniqueness while maintaining the Futurebass/Trap style that sets this project off.
SLUMBERJACK live in 2015
The five-song project starts off with “Daggers”, a Machine Age assisted Futurebass track that uses rock-influenced sounds like electric guitar, acoustic drums, and a rock vocal to create great energy and a catchy drop. “Athena” follows and brings a completely different sound, with deep horns and Gothic synths to create an intense build for the drops, which live up to expectations with great synths used to match the trap bass and drums to keep you bumping. The most radio-friendly track comes next with “Hide and Seek”. Claire Ridgely provides a vocal performance that matches every level of emotion in this Trap/Futurebass fusion song, which uses a great variety of soft synths, drum fills, and industrial sounds to control the mood and intensity of the track. Troyboi brings his signature Trap sound to “Solid”, where an industrial synth arrangement builds you up to a bumping Trap drop, but the song shines in the final drop where a synth melody is added to fill the atmosphere and bring the energy even higher. The project fittingly closes with “Closure” where Vancouver native Ekali brings some of his chill Trap element to the song, as it transitions from clam piano melodies to grand synths with ease.
Overall, SLUMBERJACK did a great job of using a large variety of sounds on SARAWAK to display their versatility as an EDM group. The use of piano to create emotion, distorting vocals to add depth, and using reggaeton-like horns to build energy are just some examples of how SLUMBERJACK’s musical range improves their work. Look forward to SLUMBERJACK building off this EP and releasing more new music in the months to come.
Standout tracks: Hide and Seek, Solid