BY ATHIRA MENON
After nearly four years, brakence is finally back with new music.
In mid-September, posters reading “have you seen brakence?” started popping up around New York and Los Angeles, each one with a QR code that led fans to a snippet. Not long after, brakence surprise-released “ready or noT,” his first solo single since his 2022 album hypochondriac.
He then took to Instagram to announce his new album, marroW, officially dropping October 23, along with a non-traditional-yet-exciting single rollout. He announced the dates: “crystallized & death roll 10/2, Problem Child 10/9, bitE & body 10/16.” Judging by what we’ve heard so far, marroW is shaping up to be more than worth the four-year wait.
Of the two tracks, “crystallized” has a softer, less aggressive vibe with plenty of room for vocals. The production feels more open than some of Brakence’s older work, letting his voice and lyrics stand out. With “death rolL,” you hear more of hypochondriac, but with twists and turns. The distorted guitars, glitches, and layered production give the track a familiar sound while still feeling unexpected and catchy. Releasing the two at the same time was not only a gift to his fans, but also a smart move, given how contrasting they are.
After letting 4 years pass after releasing hypochondriac, it seems like expectations couldn't get any higher for what he released next. But somehow, brakence might be exceeding them. Fans seem anything but disappointed in marroW so far. “ready or noT,” “crystallized,” and “death rolL” all show different sides of what the record could sound like. With the familiar Brakence glitch-pop production that we know and love, they don't stray too far from his most successful project, hypochondriac, while still being experimental and different enough to keep his audience excited for the rest of the record.
