While the fusion of EDM and metal genres is not necessarily a new concept - with releases such as Bring Me The Horizon’s Suicide Season: Cut Up! and Linkin Park’s Recharged coming to mind - there has been a major influx in artists exploring this dance-breakdown style in recent years. Notable names leading this charge include Kayzo, who has worked with the likes of Bad Omens and Atreyu, and Sullivan King, who’s 2021 album LOUD featured collaborations with Fever 333 and Ice Nine Kills, among others. Chicago-based BVLVNCE (AKA Dave Hansen) is the latest artist bringing this powerful fusion to the masses with his debut album Alchemical Transmutation.

At this stage of the growing wave of popularity surrounding this fusion of EDM and metal, it has been difficult to find a cohesive project that warrants a complete album. That is, until stumbling upon BVLVNCE’s Alchemical Transmutation. Having been previously enamored with single tracks from the likes of Kayzo and Sullivan King - “Battle Drums” and “LOUD (feat. Jason Aalon from Fever 333)” for example, from each artist respectively - I have been looking for a complete project to fill this growing EDM/metal crossover void in my playlist. Where BVLVNCE’s Alchemical Transmutation succeeds and the others falter, is knowing when to lean on the respective EDM and metal sounds throughout the individual tracks, without forcing either sound. BVLVNCE allows the booming electronics to dance around the distorted guitars and pummeling percussion, utilizing clean and harsh vocals when it fits the instrumentation and theme of the track.

Obviously inspired by the likes of Kayzo and Sullivan King, it is easy to hear the additional influence of classic post-hardcore bands, such as I See Stars and We Came As Romans. Just listen to the standout single “Conjunction” and tell me you can’t picture this song fitting alongside the likes of I See Stars’ “Murder Mitten” or “Stick Stickly” by Attack Attack! on any given electronicore playlist. Aside from the powerfully engaging sound of the album, BVLVNCE details topics of introspective examination, internal darkness, and the path to a brighter future, which can be appreciated on some level by any and all listeners.

You can listen to the hit single “Conjunction” below, as well as on our official playlists. Be sure to follow BVLVNCE wherever you can and listen to the full album if you haven’t already!