Chris Schweizer - Flashback

Astral Records rounds out the month of May by welcoming Chris Schweizer to the label for his debut EP. Since his emergence in 2009, American producer Chris Schweizer has developed into one of trance music's most recognized artists. Armin Van Burren's Armada imprint would be the primary vehicle for Chris' energetic, club-effective and highly emotive sound. The Dutch imprint would play host to the Miami resident's production prowess in excess of one hundred times, with Black Hole, Coldharbour and Perfecto also being landing spots along the way. 2023 proved to be a pivotal year in Chris' evolution as an artist, with a shift in sound marked by a release via Paul Thomas' UV Noir, one where Chris would explore the slower tempo's and metallic melodies of melodic house and techno. Now, continuing on this explorative path, Chris unveils his first project of 2024 with his Astral Records debut 'Flashback'. 'Flashback' leads the release off in grand fashion and only furthers Chris' journey into the darker depths of melodic techno. Strong kick drums and a bed of crunchy rhythms provide the anchor for layers of flickering percussion and shapeshifting arps. Cruising with a commanding presence, there's a strong sense of flow across the first act, as striking chord stabs and a chant-like vocal sample not only add depth and character, but a tension filled rise leading into a seismic break, one where pyrotechnic synths and mutated vocals converge for an epic segue into a thunderous finale. Beneath the colossal sounds of 'Flashback' lies the equally impressive 'Odyssey'. Continuing the main room assault, Chris' pristine production chops serve him well here, bursting with ultrasonic qualities and a keen sense of drama and tension. In what is an energy rush for the ages, it's a rollercoaster of anthemic chord stabs and deconstructed vocals which provide a prophetic storyboard, while a foundation of titanic kick drums and rippling grooves keep the focus firmly on a peak time dancefloor.