Hollow Shift continue to build on their atmospheric and dark electronic sound on their new EP Reload
Having earned acclaim with the release of their 2025 EPSun Won’t Die, electronic duo Hollow Shift have wasted no time continuing to push the boundaries of their exciting sound with the release of Reload, a new collection of tracks that leans even more into the signature, danceable intensity that they have grown known for.
The EP opens with ‘Play the Game’, a track that immediately sets the tone for an atmospheric and dark collection of tracks before giving way to irresistibly catchy rhythms that showcase the creative duality of their sound. This marriage of the uneasy and the captivating is something that has characterised the duo and their uncanny appeal, and makes for listening experiences that you can’t seem to pull yourself away from due to their magnetic, hypnotic charm.
‘All Alone’ follows and continues to establish this delicate marriage between immersive beats and looming darkness, with a subtly shifting synthy approach that swells and grows as the track progresses and makes for some really immersive moments. The lyrics explore themes of isolation and being alone in a way that compliments the atmospheric and sombre feel of the sound in a really hard-hitting way.
At the mid-point of the EP, its title track ‘Reload’ shows up, with a vibrant and almost euphoric-feeling synth hook from the off that kicks things into a whole other gear stylistically. The pulsing synths are eventually met with a typically brooding vocal style that delves into ideas like identity and losing yourself in a way that feels striking and memorable, making for a truly resonating listening experience that feels unpredictable as it progresses.
There is a new-wavey approach to ‘Heat’ that has a New Order-like groove to it, albeit with the added layer of darkness that Hollow Shift coat their sound in to keep it feeling sinister and dial up the atmospheric tension. There blend of sounds that feel dancey in their own unique way and introspective feels as potent as ever on this track, with the atmospheric din and catchy grooves complimenting each other in a really profound way.
The EP closes out with ‘Fatal’, a track that moves at an engrossing pace and has a daring sense of style and charm to it throughout, with passages that feel like they are pulled from a fashionable 80s set movie. The punchy nature of the synths do a great job of differentiating the track from the rest and making for a powerful ending to a release that is packed full of captivating and atmospheric moments. With the EP as a whole serving host to a wide range of tracks that continue to establish the distinctive style of the duo while pushing it further into more absorbing and ambitious avenues.
