Recklessly Explosive: Excision & Sullivan King pair once again for a chaotic anthem
84%Overall Score
• Metal plus Dubstep
• Hard techno ending
• Brilliant sound design
New year, new beginnings, they say: and what better than applying that maxim to one of our initial reviews of 2024? The first week of January usually doesn’t see that many releases getting out, although our attention got snatched by the latest project from two dubstep titans; Excision and Sullivan King have teamed up again to produce the ear-rattling dynamite that is “Codename: Reckless”.
Bass music is almost a religion in the American music scene, and Excision and Sullivan King are key figures leading the movement with their musical dexterity. The Subsidia label-head Excision has been a revered mainstay in the genre with his eccentric and off-kilter Riddim-influenced signature. Sullivan King, a long-time collaborator, brandishes his own sonic brand— one that diminishes the line between vicious and edgy hard rock/metal music with dubstep— pioneering the unique fusion style of ‘Rocktronic.’
Getting into “Codename: Reckless” is quite the experience, as powerful and grungy guitars howl in the intro with vocal growls. It is fully and entertainingly abrasive, swiftly escalating towards the first drop after an extended snare roll. Right after, squealing and dissonant synths put up a relentless show with pounding snares. There’s no break from this vitriolic sequence; another riser directly leads into the outro drop, which is a completely different specimen consisting of pulsating hard-techno arrangements with rumbling kicks equipped further with distorted synths stabs and percussions: a finale that comes out of nowhere and hits hard!
Yet again establishing their wide range of expertise in the business, Excision and Sullivan King have opened this year with a fierce tune that is sure to please headbangers and casual listeners alike!