With new single “Progress,” Sound Strider delivers a blistering critique of modern development ideology, setting the tone for his debut album “Mechanical Animist“.
This lead single pulls no punches, laying bare the cracks in the foundation of capitalism, consumerism, and systemic oppression. All wrapped up in a hypnotic post-industrial groove, the track seethes with an existential frustration that mirrors the disillusionment of the 2020’s so far.
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It opens with a sardonic checklist of capitalist milestones – investment, testing, impressing the boss – inviting listeners into a world where success feels more like a gilded cage.
From there, the intensity builds, as Sound Strider deconstructs the sinister forces that underpin “progress.” Corporate greed, environmental destruction, and the erosion of individual freedoms intertwine as symptoms of a society careering towards a dystopian future.
As the track unfolds, its visceral anger comes to the fore, culminating in the cry of “f*** progress,” a refrain repeated with a raw, protest like fervor. This is not just rebellion for rebellion’s sake but a poignant rejection of a system that equates advancement with annihilation.
By the end, the lyrics frame progress not as a triumph but as a myth – a carefully constructed façade designed to exploit minds and crush the human spirit underneath the weight of relentless machinery.
Musically, “Progress” matches this thematic intensity with an unrelenting energy. There is a driving industrial rhythm that creates a sense of tension and urgency, while Sound Strider’s vocal delivery is part slam poetry, part punk yell, making the message impossible to ignore.
This is very much protest music for a new era, channeling the rage of Rage Against the Machine and the sharp poetic edge of Immortal Technique, yet distinctly Sound Strider in its layered, experimental approach.
The upcoming Sound Strider album, shaped by the turbulence of the 2020’s, reflects an era of discontent and uncertainty. Its tracks explore themes of societal collapse, systemic corruption, and the search for meaning in a complex and chaotic world.
For Sound Strider, Mechanical Animist is an exploration of the human condition in an age dominated by machinery, both literally and metaphorically speaking.
“Progress” serves as the perfect gateway into this world with its unflinching lyrics, relentless drive, and searing critique. As a lead single it urges listeners to re-think, resist, and re-define what progress really means.
About Sound Strider
Sound Strider is a genre defying electronic artist whose work spans a wide spectrum of influences. His music blends cutting-edge sound design with hypnotic rhythms and bold experimentation and his performances are a powerful melange of haute sonique, creating unique soundscapes that reflect his journeys across Sydney, France, and Berlin.
Listen to “Progress” now on Spotify.
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