Austeria Releases Slasher Inspired Heavy Hitter, ‘NIGHTMARE’
December 3, 2024
December 3, 2024
Phoenix/Chicago-based legend MAMBA. and Sin City (Las Vegas) based artist COLLISION have dropped an incredible new collaboration with Phoenix-based Bella Renee on vocals. I was fortunate enough to see this song being performed LIVE during MAMBA’s opening slot at this year’s iteration of the Phoenix Lights festival. Bella Renee even sang her portion live and on-mic. It went HARD and got a great reaction from the crowd. I was beyond excited to see this drop and could not wait to listen to it. Listen below.
“Warning Sign” opens with gorgeous keyboards and echoing vocal samples, courtesy of Bella Renee. The keys continue as a sweeping sound element brings us into the first verse.
“Like the salt in the sea, This feeling is taking over me. And I can’t stop it from hurting. And all I want, it just fell out. I felt the love fading out. Could you stop it from hurting? So I run to. What made me hate you. All the things I said don’t do. All the things I said won’t do. All the toxins, oxytocin. Is taking up my moments.”
Ticking drums and low-key synth and bass patterns keep up the beat, as Bella Renee continues to absolutely BELT IT. The “All the toxins, oxytocin” line represents the duality that the narrator is currently experiencing. Oxytocin is commonly referred to as the brain’s ‘love drug’; which gives us positive feelings of love and adoration (AKA Butterflies) and helps bond partners on a deeper level. In direct contrast, the situation that the narrator finds themselves in also produces negative, anxiety-provoking chemicals that appear to overshadow the positive benefits of oxytocin. The narrator is very distracted by this contradiction, appearing to be unsure on how they truly feel. They also regret saying many of the things that they said during verbal altercations. These are genius songwriting moves that greatly add to the emotional impact of the track.
The song elements ramp up into full gear, as deep bass canyons match the intensity of the vocals and lyrics.
“I can feel the love fading out, every time you come back down. Never saw a warning sign, even after all this time. Never saw a warning sign. Even after all this time,” sings Bella Renee as the drums build in tempo and intensity. Majestic, shuffling synths add a shimmering sense of beauty to the chorus. Rapid drum effects, revving bass and a ‘switch’ vocal sample lead us into the first drop. This drop is a headbanger’s paradise, perfectly showcasing the heavy/melodic balance of dubstep that the collaborating producers are known for. This shows off the versatility and talent of these artists. The first drop fades out, as triumphant synth effects work in tandem with the keyboards and drums to give the track a bit of a spicy flavor. This bridge effortlessly leads us into the song’s second verse.
“I wish I could turn back time. And all at once I felt left out. Can’t go back, so I fix it now. Wish I could turn back time.” The narrator is facing regret for their actions and devastation from the sudden distance of their partner. However, they have also accepted that they cannot change the past and want to repair things in the present moment. A noble move indeed. Soaring synths continue into the second chorus, as the beat reaches a gorgeous crescendo. The drums subtly tap along, keeping up the foundation of this track, before bombarding us once again. The second drop on “Warning Sign” is very melodic, proving once again that these collaborators can do it ALL! This drop transports us to a beautiful snowy and digital realm, as the song’s tempo gradually increases to a near drum and bass BPM rate. This was a pleasantly surprising production twist. The song fades out as we complete our emotional journey through this song.
It was cool to see this song progress from a live teaser into the full-fledged finished product. It was well worth the wait and will be making the rounds in my playlists for some time now. “Warning Sign” mixes the best elements of each collaborating artist into a well-produced package. Creating the perfect balance between heaviness and melody. Listen today to be taken on an emotional journey with lots of auditory twists and turns.
Connect with MAMBA.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud
Connect with COLLISION: Instagram | Spotify | Soundcloud
Connect with Bella Renee: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud