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Anatomy of Despair: The Holy Bible

Discover the legacy of The Holy Bible by the Manic Street Preachers—an album born from the personal anguish of Richey Edwards and a reflection of societal decay. From its harrowing lyrics to its bold political statements, the album remains a raw, unfiltered expression of art.

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Tool’s “Ænema”: A Visceral Odyssey of Fear and Enlightenment

Tool's "Ænema" is more than just a music video—it's a visceral and surreal journey into the human psyche. Directed by Adam Jones, the video broke boundaries with its stop-motion animation, dark themes, and visual mastery.

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#Music Industry Inspired: Rick Rubin

At RIOT, music is the heartbeat of everything we create. It’s the pulse that drives our wildest ideas and keeps us pushing boundaries. We take our cues from the industry’s game-changers—those who’ve ripped up the rule book and redefined what music can be. One name that’s always at the top of our list? Rick Rubin. The mastermind producer whose raw, genre-busting creativity is etched into the soul of RIOT. Rubin’s knack for blending the unexpected and his relentless pursuit of authenticity is what makes him a legend in our book. To celebrate his genius, we’ve embedded a massive 97-hour playlist by GLV Records, showcasing the depth and breadth of his work. Smash that shuffle button, crank up the volume, and let Rubin’s magic be the soundtrack to your day. Trust us, it’s the creative kickstart you didn’t know you needed. That’s not art. That’s commerce. Rick Rubin’s career spans over four decades, breaking boundaries and redefining sound. From co-founding Def Jam Recordings with Russell Simmons to shaping the sound of rock, hip-hop, metal, and beyond, Rubin’s influence is legendary, transcending pure music production. “I don’t really know anything about music. It’s more a way of looking at the world, and […]

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#Music Industry Inspired: Sleep Token

At RIOT, music is more than just a passion—it’s the pulse of our creativity. We’ve always championed bands and artists pushing the boundaries of music and their entire package to the outside world, or, as it’s 2024, their “branding.”. One band that epitomizes this ethos is Sleep Token. Their unique branding, an intricate blend of mystique, musical innovation, and visual textures resonates deeply with us and fuels our creative vision at RIOT. The Genesis of Sleep Token Sleep Token appeared on the scene in 2016, almost out of nowhere, with their debut single, “Thread the Needle,” presenting a sound that defies conventional genres. Their music is an eclectic mix of progressive metal, ambient soundscapes, and soulful melodies that immediately captured our attention. However, it is their branding—rooted in anonymity and mystery—that truly sets them apart and aligns with our philosophy at RIOT. Sleep Token’s enigmatic presence, led by the mysterious figure known only as Vessel, involves members donning masks and robes, keeping their identities concealed and emphasizing the art over the artist. This approach isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a core element of their brand, allowing the audience to immerse themselves fully in the music and the narrative. The Mythos […]

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Unearthed James Blake Interview from 2013

Unearthed from 2013, this James Blake interview offers a deep dive into his unique approach to music production and his creative process. A rare look into the mind of one of music’s most innovative artists, influencing modern soundscapes across genres.

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#Music Industry Inspired: Steve Albini (RIP)

Steve Albini was more than a music producer—he was a visionary whose raw, DIY approach to sound engineering shaped an entire era of music. In this tribute, we explore his legacy, influence, and how his ethos continues to inspire artists and producers today.

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Echoes of Resilience: Ren’s ‘Sick Boi’ and the Enduring Allure of Audio Tapes

Discover the raw artistry of Ren's 'Sick Boi' in our latest RIOT journal entry. Dive into the world of audio tape revival and experience how this Welsh rapper's personal narrative is driving a resurgence of musical tangibility.

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Video of the Day: Ásgeir – Unbound
March 9, 2017 by riotwashere in Music 0 Comments

“Unbound” by Ásgeir has been doing the rounds at Riot HQ for quite a few weeks now – giving it enough staying power for us to want to share with the rest of the world.  A glitchy, mellow and futuristic sounding song with absolutely stunning falsetto vocals that simply melt in your mouth, “Unbound” is the perfect level of eclectic weirdness that we adore. The beautifully shot and unique video deals in an unknown virtual reality world, where the subjects are able to express their deepest and darkest desires, through a futuristic virtual reality lens.  Throughout the film we watch multiple storylines intertwine, hooking us in right from the beginning until the last note rings out. We’ve been following Ásgeir and his work for many years – it just keeps getting better and better.  We advise everyone that loves this go back and check out more of Ásgeir’s work as it is sure to cleanse your musical palette. Click play and enjoy the magic.

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Song / Video of the Day: Wennink – Dissolve
February 18, 2017 by riotwashere in Music 0 Comments

“Dissolve” has been haunting me for a few weeks now.  Every time that sombre piano hits after the initial glitch, I find my mood instantly resets. I give sole focus to the song every single time.  I mean hell, “Dissolve” made me get on here and write this, that’s the power within it. It’s stunning, clever, thought provoking and pulls you into another dimension, where only you and the song exist for a moment. “Dissolve” makes me reflect on me and my day, rather than focusing on anyone else or even the song itself (and the intricacies contained within it) – it’s happy to just take me on a journey.  So my day huh? Today, I got the Santa Cruz blue hand with the mouth inside it tattooed on me and it looks rad, I worked all day (still am) and I’m currently waiting on the second burrito from Essex Taco in the Lower East Side on busy Friday night, within one hour, because it was that divine – I also just got called to check I actually wanted the second burrito!  It’s the first time Seamless and I have done express re-order and it’s dangerous. I was going to just put “Dissolve” up as […]

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Song / Video of the Day: “Half Below” by TEPR
October 12, 2016 by riotwashere in Music, Filmmaking 0 Comments

We’re always on the look out for a good track to work too. If you get the right song, where you just can’t help but jive with it, then you’re golden. You’re inspired, your ass is moving back and forth in the seat – you’re just generally far more happy with your current situation because of that song. Well “Half Below” by TEPR is our latest “song to work to” gem that we discovered and just can’t get enough of. We were so inspired in fact that we also put together some of our own imagery inspired by listening to the song on loop. We recommend you listen to the song a bunch of times before actually moving on to the video at all. Fall in love with the song first and the video gives you this awesome addition to something you weren’t sure could get better. The song version is 5:55 in length, whereas the video version is just a minuscule 2:14 – although it packs a massive punch in that short time with some fantastic inspiring visuals that are unique, well done and funny (our favorite being the skull kitting himself with his bones as if he is […]

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