If you've heard any recent Vicetone track, then you should know what to expect by now. But are the Dutch duo in danger of becoming too predictable? Find out past the jump.
There's no denying that Heat packs a punch. Vicetone aren't especially known for doing things by half, and their bombastic mantra is carried into this latest release. It sees a return to a slightly older version of their style. It has all of the elements you'd expect - soaring melodies, excellent synths, and a gradual buildup throughout the entire track; if the first drop packs a punch, then the second delivers a knock-out blow.
In short, it contains everything you've come to know and love about Vicetone, but... is that a good thing? There's no denying that Heat is a great track, in isolation, but when considered as part of Vicetone's catalogue, it just sort of... blends into the background. It doesn't really stand out as being one of their best, most creative tracks, and highlights what may become an issue with the duo. I really love Vicetone, but even I have to admit: their tracks are beginning to get a bit same-y. Heat bares more than a passing resemblance to their remix of Krewella and Nicky Romero's Legacy.
It's a difficult balance to strike. There are always two types of fan - the ones that demand that every song sound exactly the same, and the ones that demand a total change in style with every new release. Keeping both happy can be a challenge, and I just wonder if in order to achieve that, that Vicetone sometimes err on the side of caution too much, which is frustrating when, even as recently as their previous release (Ensemble), they've proved they're more than capable of mixing things up a bit whilst retaining the essence that runs through all of their work.
Nevertheless, Heat is still a really great track. I may sound like I'm being overly critical, but I know these fellas can really deliver, so I always want the best from them. Heat falls short of that, but it's still an incredibly entertaining banger that will undoubtedly slot into their live sets very nicely. It's a tricky one to score, as I could give it two totally different scores depending on whether I consider the track as its own entity, or as part of Vicetone's catalogue. For now, I'll probably err towards the former, but I really hope Vicetone start to get a bit more adventurous, or it might have to start being the latter.
The Octopus' Verdict: 6/8
Release Details:
Name: Heat
Artist: Vicetone
Label: Revealed Recordings
Release Date: 18 August [OUT NOW]
Purchase: Beatport
Writer, musician, and all-round top guy. I set up Excited Octopus. Currently, I'm on a one man team. It gets lonely sometimes. But I don't mind, because I love you all.
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