Snow Strippers - Night Killaz, Vol. 1 (2023) Review
Snow Strippers' electrifying EP, Night Killaz, Vol. 1, is a thrilling journey through gritty, raw, and unapologetically chaotic EDM that blends elements of 90s nostalgia with the late 2000s indie dance scene. At only 16 minutes, this album offers a solid amount of catchy beats, intense synths, and distorted vocals that you want to hear over and over again.
The opening track, "Aching Like It’s," immediately grabs your attention with its blend of 90s EDM and 2010s indie. The vocal samples add an extra layer of depth, while the raw and rough production is a major contrast to the hyper-polished sound often associated with EDM. It is such a catchy song.
"Cautious" is a chaotic and messy production, and while I can acknowledge that this song (and really this whole project) won’t be for everyone, I am very much enjoying it. The instrumental on this one reminds me a little bit of Virtual Self and that’s great.
"Just Your Doll" kicks things up a notch with intense synths and relentless energy. This is like Crystal Castles but more “dancey” and a little more rough around the edges. This was one of the songs that initially hooked me on to this band and immediately had me listening to everything they’ve got.
“Touching Yours" continues the trend of chaotic yet melodic production, with vocoder-distorted vocals that bring to mind The Voidz's first album, Tyranny, during the only verse. The juxtaposition of chaotic soundscapes and infectious melodies is a recurring theme throughout Snow Strippers' catalog.
"Just a Hint" comes right out of the gate with festival-like synths and vocal sampling work that oozes charisma. This song gives off the lo-fi charm of 2010 indie/ bedroom pop but in a completely different direction.
"Coming Down" is another standout track on the album, delivering a burst of energy that doesn’t stop. The duo have a knack for high-energy, high-momentum songs and this one is that at its best. "Another High" closes out the EP with choppy production that sounds pretty cool. Syncopated piano chords always sound good. The song's abrupt ending leaves me longing for a greater sense of finality. It's a minor nitpick, but their projects could benefit from a tighter sense of cohesion rather than feeling like a collection of songs.
Despite the inevitable comparisons to Crystal Castles, I’ve got to give them credit for at least trying to revive something refreshing in the indie space. There are only so many dull-ass acoustic ballads I can take. With their infectious charm, catchy melodies, and insane replayability, Snow Strippers are quickly becoming one of the most exciting artists to watch. Night Killaz, Vol. 1 is short and sweet, and in that sense, this project reminds me of getting into Good Morning’s Shawcross for the first time and listening to it like 12,000 times.
8/10 - Great EP