German bass leader Virtual Riot sparks a creative revolution with his Monstercat debut album, ‘Stealing Fire.’
Blending his signature sounds with influences from fellow artists, Virtual Riot demonstrates that innovation can rise from profound inspiration.
A true cinematic masterpiece, ‘Stealing Fire’ showcases the intensity of Virtual Riot’s artistic power, where each song flows into the next with evocative precision. As Virtual Riot’s most expressive work to date, this project goes beyond his own creative mind, drawing inspiration from the artistry of others by interpreting the musical elements he admires and blending them with new meaning. Throughout the album, listeners set forth on an interactive journey through an expansive range of multi-genre soundscapes, each track carving out its own unique universe including gritty dubstep, energetic house, future garage, and mystifying midtempo. ‘Stealing Fire’ begins with the cathartic rush of “Embark,” setting the emotional tone for the rest to follow. As the journey progresses, the title track opens with an electrifying fusion of bass house elements, layered with echoes of sounds and samples reflective of artists including Skrillex, TroyBoi, Disclosure, Burial, movies, and more. This momentum carries into an array of genre-bending tracks like “Scorched Earth,” where instrumental elements collide with explosive hardstyle. The emotive “Give in to you” with REZZ and One True God dives into midtempo territory, while “New Energy” charges with more instrumental power pulsing with experimental bass. With ‘Stealing Fire,’ Virtual Riot blurs the lines between admiration and innovation, producing sounds both familiar and entirely new. Virtual Riot isn’t just stealing fire, he’s sharing it, letting his creative flames ignite into something far greater. There is truly something for every music lover on this album.
Virtual Riot is a name that has become monumental with groundbreaking innovations in electronic music, playing a substantial role in shaping the modern dubstep landscape. Renowned for his distinctive sound design, blending thunderous basslines with cinematic melodies, he has firmly established himself as one of the genre’s leading pioneers. His relentless passion for sharing his production knowledge with the world truly sets Virtual Riot apart – his Splice sample packs, downloaded over 5 million times, have inspired countless artists and significantly influenced the evolution of bass music. His incomparable skillset has led him to work with industry giants like Skrillex and Swae Lee on “Mixed Signals” and Justin Bieber on his Grammy-nominated track “2 Much,” as well as syncs in television shows including Disney+’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian. Not only is his technical expertise captivating, but Virtual Riot’s live performances are audio-visual experiences like no other. Joined by VJ Neurite, who commands the on-stage visuals, he delivers mesmerizing sets that consistently leave crowds in admiration. From selling out iconic venues like The Hollywood Palladium to dominating major festivals such as Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, and Lost Lands, Virtual Riot is an unmissable force.
Virtual Riot shares, “When you are inspired by other people’s work, and you take the parts you like and re-interpret and combine them with something new; when you share knowledge that was previously gatekept or unavailable except to a select few; when you listen to music to put yourself into an altered state of mind — you’re stealing fire. And you don’t have to take it away; when you do it right, it spreads and multiplies, and in the end, there is just more fire for everybody.”
Fans can experience the breathtaking journey of ‘Stealing Fire’ live during his massive audio-visual experience headline tour with VJ Neurite – set to takeover cities including Chicago, Las Vegas, San Fransisco, Toronto and more. Tickets are available here.
