Review Summary: rawr - roflcopter XD
Another small Soundcloud artist keeping crunkcore alive in 2023. We love to see unexpected culture shifts, however minute they might be: then again, you never know…
Maya Malice’s debut EP leans heavily into the electropop side of crunkcore, but there’s certainly enough Cookie Monster growls to entertain scene kids still wearing neon bracelets. Each track features ear blasting synthesizers, which are loud enough to obscure lyrics and singing. It’s a shame because Maya has a uniquely deep voice, bringing beauty to otherwise straightforward, synth-hammered, jarring tracks.
Maya smartly reveals their songwriting skills and emphasizes oomph with infinite hooks. The techno-like rhythm of tracks fills the air with tight, simple, synth hooks: loud enough to scream out their confidence. The straight-forward approach with loud, party synths is very reminiscent of Crazy Frog, if you will. Whether you get a headache or enjoy the tracks, these synths will get in your head and latch on like an invading alien possessing a human body.
The EP has an undeniably youthful sound, with equally juvenile lyrics bringing to mind Freezepop’s early albums. In case you’re wondering, there is also an included song here called Hot Topic. That’s really all you need to know to discover what you’re getting into with this music. This release does not sound like it belongs in 2023, for better and worse. The mixing is not good. Lyrics are nearly completely buried under the synth onslaught. Maya admits herself on her Tumblr account: “Are you a fan of horribly produced crunkcore? How about crusty ass vocals over ***ty synth loops? Well I’ve got the EP for you!!”. A cute and somewhat accurate statement, if overblown.
Against all odds, the EP works. It’s a feast for the ears, and certainly brazen enough to hold the heart of the genre. There’s a lot more that can be done, including more varied synth work, but what’s given is catchy and stomps. For a small crunkcore artist, it’s fairly impressive. In short, a solid debut, with room for growth.
