Whether you love it or not, you have to admit that the darkwave scene sounds better than ever. There are numerous artists and bands doing incredible work, with their albums, extended plays, and singles resonating with many brilliant ideas and outstanding musicianship. If you paid close attention to our pages in the last couple of months, then you already know about Hollow Shift, a fascinating duo that pushes the mentioned music genre to the very limits, and sometimes, even beyond. With the “Sun Won’t Die” EP, they proved that darkwave music, when done right, can still sound fresh, unique, innovative, and still radio-friendly. Several months fast-forward, and they’re back with another fine piece of sonic artistry that continues to break all the rules and shapeshift boundaries of what this longstanding genre can actually do. “Reload” further showcases their creativity, talent, skills, ideas, and musicianship by diving even deeper into the foundations of darkwave music, and all of that while incorporating some of the finest elements borrowed from post-punk, goth rock, synth wave, synth pop, and many other similar styles. Lyrically, this material explores identity, isolation, and psychological landscapes. with lyrics that conjure heat-soaked nights, inner restlessness, and the fractured edges of human connection. It allows endless contemplation, tackles various emotions, and sets a perfect mood for another tremendous listening experience.
This epic sonic journey commences with “Play The Game,” a fine piece of sonic artistry that begins with ambient, nearly ethno-inspired vocal soundscapes. However, the duo immediately transits into known sonic territories, adorned with dark, hypnotic, irresistible synth leads, themes, melodies, and harmonies delivered on synths. Beneath this comprehensive collection of sonic maneuvers, Hollow Shift incorporated a colossal slab of subtly distorted basslines, groovy, detailed, and powerful enough to give more warmth to this impressive song without overwhelming the remainder of the orchestrations. The beats keep everything in line while dictating groove and pace with all those energetic, intricate, heavy beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics. Of course, this composition wouldn’t be good without marvelous. vocal performance. The way Jessica Bell’s voice elevates everything through perfectly performed vocal harmonies goes beyond comprehension on this track and so many times over the entire EP. Her soulful, emotional, passionate vocal performance highlights each melody, harmony, and theme with such precision and finesse, making this material so enjoyable and worth spinning all over again. “All Alone” is another standout where the cold and detached atmosphere created by implementing various synth layers sets the tone for the entire listening track. Each sonic maneuver hits hard thanks to intelligent songwriting, composing, and arranging. These are the moments where the duo demonstrates all their brilliance, and each new segment of the song is even deeper, emotional, ethereal, and otherworldly. You’ll also notice how the title track immediately transports you into the eighties, an era when synthwave music ruled the airwaves. “Reload” is fully stacked with all those important elements that make every synthwave song so good. The hypnotic, catchy, addictive leads, themes, melodies, harmonies, and chord progressions are perfectly paired with colossal ambient pads, the bass guitar feels more analog than on previous tracks, and energetic rhythmic patterns craft a dynamic environment that will satisfy even the pickiest listener. Although “Reload” is more of a synthwave track, it’s nearly mindblowing how Hollow Shift retained that sweet darkness that decorates most of their discography. It’s a perfect balance between cold, detached atmosphere and catchy, ethereal melodies that works so well for them. After such a beautiful synthwave song, a post-punk anthem arrives. With its lush, reverby arpeggiated chord progressions, low-end synth basslines, and comprehensive collection of electronic beats, “Heat” carries everything a post-punk fan would appreciate. Jessica Bell’s voice shines in the limelight, delivering another layer of hypnotic melody that immediately wraps around the listening apparatus and refuses to let go long after the last notes and beats fade. This fascinating sonic voyage comes to an end with “Fatal,” another incredible darkwave composition where the duo used all weapons in their impressive sonic arsenal. This track packs melody, harmony, rawness, and power at the same time, creating a colossal slab of harmonious noise that immediately transports you into a different realm. Such a perfect closure of a brilliant extended play that you’ll unquestionably spin over and over again.
If you’re a die-hard darkwave fan, “Reload” is one of those recordings you surely do not want to miss. It packs all the vital elements of the genre while simultaneously exploring other similar styles, creating a one-of-a-kind listening experience worth revisiting. Hollow Shift is an exceptional duo capable of breathing fresh air into such a longstanding music genre, pushing it to the very limits without even breaking its initial aesthetics. “Reload” proves that darkwave, when done right, can still sound fresh, unique, addictive, and exciting, just like when you heard it for the first time. It’s an absolute masterpiece and a step forward for this fascinating darkwave duo. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out! 10/10
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