Martin Garrix - BYLAW EP

Martin Garrix
BYLAW EP
2018
Spotify

There are few people who are as on the nose EDM as Martin Garrix. The number 1 DJ in the world (According to DJ Mag) has legions of devoted fans across the world who stream to his live shows. His big bold version of EDM is inciting, especially on the album's opener  "Breach (Walk Alone". Whirling synths, blaring horns and the drops, oh the drops all make this album a ravers delight. Let me rephrase that a bit, a European ravers delight. As the heights of EDM slowly fade in the US it seems like Europe is still in love with the sound. There is a distinctly dubby aspect to this record that is new to Garrix. It feels like He heard a few Skirllex joints and got some ideas. Either that or Garrix is trying to blend more of his wild live show to his released music. You can almost see the lasers in your eyes as this album progresses. The sound is absolutely monstrous, this is the kind of shit you want to play when you need to get a crowd of 100,000 all moving at once. The thing is this album has almost nothing to say besides: "here is some loud dance music". It is cinematic and vibrant at times, but it always devolves into more of the same every time. That is really saying something for an EP that is only five tracks long.

The music is so specific to a certain vibe that it never breaks any new ground or goes to any new places. I'll admit I have dragged friends to a Martin Garrix set at some festivals and honestly they never disappoint. The show is huge, the lights incredible and the music... well it's there too. It is escapism, turn on this EP and dance like the world doesn't really exist. There is no problem with that, but there are far better songs that do the exact same thing. The thing about this record and Martin Garrix in general is He doesn't seem malicious. He seems like a Dutch guy out here trying to have some fun and who can really fault him for that? You don't have to like his music, I don't, but I also don't think he is trying to pull a scheme or play the system like so many others try to do. So I guess I'm saying just let Martin Garrix be Martin Garrix, He won't bother you if you just pretend he isn't there, and plus you'll make alot of kids just finding out about EDM very happy if you stop dissing him.

4.4 out of 10