Track of the Day: X-RL7 – Antipop Star (2025)
What began as a simple point-and-click game quickly evolved into an animated web series and musical project featuring pixelated cyberpunk group X-RL7. Creator Mick Evans shares that “…the combination of music, storytelling, and animation has built an incredible community…” – and so we travel along with X-RL7 as they navigate the music industry, futuristic challenges, and personal dilemnas. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Antipop Star’.
Following their well-received 2024 singles ‘Bitrate Love’ and ‘Virtuous’, ‘Antipop Star’ is X-RL7’s saunter into 2025. Produced by Scott Landes and penned by Mike Evans, ‘Antipop Star’ steps from softer pop-punk sounds in ‘Bitrate Love’ to a sonic whirlwind of hard rock and melodic metal. Crashing drums, dynamic guitars and shimmering keyboards collide in a scorching rush of hard-hitting metal; however, just as there is prominence with each instrument offering particular individuality, its weighty crash of sound bubbles in a harmonic symphony.
As with the web series, ‘Antipop Star’ is an entirely immersive experience plunging into the chaos of a kaleidoscopic hurricane. Slices of burning light weave across a dark wall, whipping your head and tossing you from pillar to post. Skin-tingling, breath-taking, and soul-stirring, you lose yourself entirely in ‘Antipop Star’; however, the haunting female vocals are simultaneously the ethereal siren singing in the back and a dreamy anchor to weather the storm.
Featuring the vocals of AL1CE’s Natasha Cox, ‘Antipop Star’ brings the twinkle of Evanescence’s Amy Lee to our ears – or at least a voice very reminiscent of Lee. In fact, X-RL7 could be placed alongside Evanescence and Halestorm on any melodic metal playlist. I highly recommend you join me as I follow X-RL7’s journey in the web series and through their exciting discography.
In addition to the single, X-RL7 released an official music video for ‘Antipop Star’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects and can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about X-RL7 on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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