500 Degreez
Dim Mak Records celebrates a major milestone this year with the label’s 500th release with the King Babies EP from experimental art punkers The Death Set, out January 21. The 4-track EP features new music from the NYC-based via Australia thrashers that perfectly exemplifies their brash mix of cross-genre punk, noise, grunge, and beyond. King Babies marks a full circle for Dim Mak Records as it perfectly meshes the label’s punk rock roots and current status as a leading brand in contemporary electronic music.
Making its official debut today on Noisey (Vice), the King Babies EP from The Death Set is available to stream in full below:
King Babies—a follow-up to their critically acclaimed album Michel Poiccard (2011)—sees the duo Johnny Siera and Dan Walker along with hard-hitting drummer Will Broussard return to full form. Always strange and ridiculously catchy, The Death Set reignite their punk origins with King Babies, which is equal parts noisy and melodic with maximum energy and captures the mayhem of their live shows.
The EP launches with the fast-paced “Lite The Fuse,” a screaming ode to its moombahton-inspired beat that features furious vocals, unnerving punk heaviness, and a grimy bass line. “Think Shank,” inspired by ‘80s hardcore, follows suit with electronic builds, back-and-forth vocals, and a half-time bridge that begs listeners to bounce. “Soar Away” shows the melodic side of The Death Set, which includes a pop-leaning chorus of anthemic proportions. The track pays homage to their previous popular tracks like “Negative Thinking” and is a melodic journey about conquering self-doubt. King Babies closes strong with “The Enemy” with electronic blips and a stomping beat behind lyrics that give voice to the madness of internal dialogue.
The Death Set is excited to join Dim Mak, a label that launched on hardcore 7-inch records and has grown into an EDM superpower,” says Siera. “The fit is snuggly and perfect.
With King Babies, The Death Set epitomizes the spirit of punk, electro, and hardcore, the three pillar sounds that define the Dim Mak brand. Founded in 1996 by Grammy nominated international producer-DJ and electronic dance music entrepreneur Steve Aoki, the label launched as an independent imprint releasing hardcore and punk rock bands with the first official Dim Mak record coming from obscure, SoCal hardcore ensemble Stickfigurecarousel.
Since then, the label has grown to become a powerhouse in the global electronic music scene today, while still remaining true to its commitment to release cutting-edge music from artists shaping and creating fresh music genres. Dim Mak has played a major role in defining and creating the current electronic music space, particularly within the Los Angeles market, and helped foster various music scenes from indie dance rock, underground hip-hop, electro, and house. To date, Dim Mak has broken countless artists, who are now leading figures in their respective genres, including The Kills, Battles, Bloc Party, The Gossip, Klaxons, The Bloody Beetroots, MSTRKRFT, Felix Cartal, Datsik, and more.
If you love what you’re hearing, pre-order the King Babies EP from The Death Set on iTunes. It’d be the sweetest pre-Valentine’s Day gift.
For more of The Death Set, just click here.
