Vans Update: Kai Rollins unleashes "EDM-core" on Warped Tour
Kai Rollins' positioning as the second stage headliner on Warped Tour, it's safe to say, has been met with a bit of a mixed reaction to date. For his fans, the shows have been high energy, impressive visually and performed very well - and the sizeable crowds who have made their way to see him at each stop on the tour have been testament to how well he's actually doing. However, for many it's just impossible to overlook the fact that Kai is not at the top of the bill on merit, but rather because of who he is, the image push that he gives the tour, and of course the fact that his clothing label is sponsoring the stage he's closing each night. At the end of the day, we've got a guy up there who has had three admittedly very well received singles to his name to date, but three nonetheless. And below him on the bill come acts that have an album or more behind them. Whatever your opinion on his live show, it's hard to argue that his presence at the head of the Drop Dead stage is more about star power than it is about music.
As you'll no doubt have gathered, I'm one of those in the latter. Having followed the tour through each of its dates so far, I've opted to watch the majority of Vile Hour each evening, making sure to see just enough of Kai to form an opinion that would allow me write things about him not being fit for the position on the posters. However, my own plan backfired and slapped me right in the face last night in Las Vegas, where I rolled up just in time for Kai to unleash his brand new music on the crowd for the first time. Most of his sets before Vegas had consisted of playing songs from his debut King Of the Scene EP, released in 2013, mixed in with a few cover versions, but this was totally different. This was Kai dropping all the bullshit, getting rid of everything we've heard before and punching us in the face with a sound fresher and newer than I ever expected to hear from a guy like Kai. And Warped fucking loved it. If there was a roof, it would have been lifted off the place.
"EDM-core," the English vocalist called his new sound from the stage. I was sceptical when he mentioned it. Dance music has been creeping more into our alternative style of music in recent times with, ugh, Enter Shikari, ugh, Asking Alexandria and, ugh, Blood on the Dancefloor just a few that have tried to harness its power, so I was understandably preparing to roll my eyes clean out of my head when a man as image conscious as Kai announced his own mix of dance and metalcore. I needn't have worried though, as this was everything metal has been screaming out for for years. Locked in an endless cycle of copycat metalcore since 2005, it's a welcome distraction to have something like this arrive and completely blow the cobwebs away. The first song is synth heavy, EDM infused to the max, but it is still undoubtedly metal. The crowd lapped it up from the first ominous keyboard note to the last bouncing chorus that had everyone in the vicinity jumping up and down and had the circle pits swirling and marauding violently. It's heavy, it's catchy, it's angry and it's happy all at once. Whatever you think of the man behind this, America, open yourself up and allow this to become the sound of your summer. And from there it goes on - 5 songs of pure "EDM-core" magic that I was almost saddened to see come to a close.
Previously, music seemed like little more than a vanity project for Kai, and with his clothing label making him incredibly rich in the last few weeks, I suspected that music would play even more of a second fiddle to his literal vanity project. But last night in Vegas proved that this might not be the case. Kai Rollins is once again fresh and relevant in metal, and if he continues in this vein, maybe one day he'll just deserve that slot he's been so controversially handed at Warped Tour.
Single: Underground
Artist: Kai Rollins
Release Date: June 26, 2014
Genre: EDM-core
Length: 4:12
Label: N/A
Written by: Kai Rollins/Jordan Fish
Produced by: N/AThe recording from Las Vegas begins with a camera coming into focus just as a long final distorted guitar note rings out around the venue. Kai Rollins is at the back of the stage dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a Drop Dead baseball shirt. He lifts a can of beer and drinks some from it before tossing it into the crowd and lifting his mic from the front of the stage.
"Fuckin' right. This is the best show I've ever played, for real. So listen...." He stops as the crowd are still cheering his previous statement and starting to chant Kai's name again. The frontman looks at the floor and scratches his head, giving them a second. He then seems to lose patience and steps up on the front monitor on the stage.
"Right, shut the fuck up! Listen, right, this is the fuckin' best show I've ever played in me life, yeah? And I promised you lot before the tour that I would release some new music at some point on this run. Well since you've been fuckin' mental out there, tonight is that fuckin' night," he says, shooting the crowd a wry knowing smile when a large scream comes from the fans down the front. He wipes the sweat from his face and laughs a little.
Right, so here, listen. This song is different to anything we've done before. Please welcome my fuckin' good good friend to the stage, Mr Jordan Nicholls." Kai applauds and then walks to the side of the stage to embrace the newest member of his band who has just made his way onto the stage. Jordan, who looks a little nervous, waves to the cheering crowd, before saying something inaudible to Kai, who laughs and walks back to the front of the stage as Jordan makes his way to a keyboard near the drums.
"So this is summat a little different to get your teeth into. Do we want a fuckin' party or what?" He nods and takes a drink from a new beer.
"That's what I like to hear. This is brand new, this is a Kai Rollins original genre. This is called fuckin' EDM-core, and if I see any of you out there standing still Las Vegas, I'll be very fuckin' disappointed. Jump, bounce, dance, pit, whatever. Just don't stand still. This song is called Underground." The sun is just starting to go down as Kai turns and points to Jordan at the back of the stage. He stands up on his monitor afterwards, arms spread out to the side.
Let's open this fuckin' place up." Just then, a single, ominous wavering keyboard note comes from the speakers, hanging in the air as the crowd wait with baited breath for what's about to happen. When the drums join a few seconds later, the keyboard notes become more frequent and electronic, building up to something. As the drums start to reach a crescendo, the keyboard plays four very dancey notes, no doubt confusing people in the crowd, before the main riff kicks in. The guitars, drums and bass are as heavy as ever from Kai songs, but this is different. While the riffs are huge and distorted, the song is laced deliciously with electronic keyboard sounds that could have been lifted straight from any dancefloor. At the inception of the main riff, Kai starts to bounce on the stage, motioning for the crowd to join him, which most do.
As the first verse starts, Kai's vocals sound fresher and more energetic than ever before. Every word is still screamed and delivered with a violent anger, but with the dance backing, it lends it something totally different. The whole time he screams out the vocals, the energy both on stage and off stays at fever pitch, with the crowd moving and jumping in time to the bouncy and infectious "EDM-core" track. Kai stands front and centre the whole time, directing the crowd like some sort of 21st century conductor, tattooed and revered by those watching from just a few feet away. Ahead of the chorus, Kai grins and lifts the mic to his face.
"Don't fuckin' die on me Vegas! Jump jump jump jump!" he yells as he starts to bounce on the balls of his feet again. When the chorus kicks in, it's much more dance inspired than the verses, with the riffs taking a momentary back seat as the keyboard and screamed vocals take centre stage. Throughout, the crowd dance and scream for this new fresh sound, and Kai is stood the whole time with a massive grin on his face, clearly loving being on stage performing more than he ever has before. The night time darkness, coupled with the way the green and blue spotlights wash over the crowd really make this feel like a party, and the atmosphere is electric as the dance and metal combination makes for some of the most original music that has been heard on the whole Warped Tour.
When it eventually comes to an end, it seems like the song has only just begun, with Kai's new sound having really ripped through the crowd and delivered something that no one here expected to hear. It's heavy, but manages to keep the catchy dance style sound that the EDM brings to the party. Clearly those in attendance have absolutely loved it, and for Kai, the feeling is mutual, easy to see from the massive grin on his face as the keyboard eventually fades out.
Vegas, you got me fuckin' heart. That was fuckin' massive," he says, bowing to the crowd, before the camera fades to black again.
Sounds like:
As the darkness descends we go underground,
To the graves we filled with souls we sold,
There's no pleasure in the solace found,
No hindsight brings about peace as we grow old,
Suffocating in the crowd, I fight for breath,
On my knees again I search for hope I'll never find,
There's no peace or rest to be had in death,
No chance to look back for the blind,
Howl and scream in pain as we shout this fucker down
Melting eyes and cries will die as we burn it to the ground
Put on your war paint, grow tall and never give up til death
Fuck this, middle fingers up, because we've tasted our final breath You're a long time dead and moments alive,
No regrets can erase the regrets you paint,
Fuck the ones who stand there as we dive
Down into the pits to meet another reckless saint,
Born in peace and lived in sin, so many lies told
No honesty, no light inside, no retribution
If you want I've found the cure to growing old
Just say the word and we'll enact this final execution
Howl and scream in pain as we shout this fucker down
Melting eyes and cries will die as we burn it to the ground
Put on your war paint, grow tall and never give up til death
Fuck this, middle fingers up, because we've tasted our final breath So throw it off like no one knew
This shield of lies is all you threw
In your defence, they all would follow
As you ignite the flames of sorrow
So throw it off like no one knew
This shield of lies is all you threw
In your defence, they all would follow
But why defend today when there's no tomorrow?
Howl and scream in pain as we shout this fucker down
Melting eyes and cries will die as we burn it to the ground
Put on your war paint, grow tall and never give up til death
Fuck this, middle fingers up, because we've tasted our final breath You gave me one more chance to say I'm sorry
Lay regrets to rest and come back stronger
But there's no moment I would bury
I've got no desire to live any longer
Your time in this coil is burning down
Live it now, take the consequences later
Why waste time in looking up and down
My own grave will feel like a crater.
Howl and scream in pain as we shout this fucker down
Melting eyes and cries will die as we burn it to the ground
Put on your war paint, grow tall and never give up til death
Fuck this, middle fingers up, because we've tasted our final breath 