The War Of The Roses by David Heartbreak: A Genre-Bending Dubstep Fiesta That’ll Mess With Your Brain (In a Good Way)
Let’s cut to the chase—David Heartbreak’s The War Of The Roses isn’t your run-of-the-mill electronic album. Released in 2014 under Skrillex’s Owsla label, this thing is like a sonic smoothie blended with dubstep grit, reggae vibes, house beats, and glitchy chaos. If you’re into music that feels like it’s been stitched together by a mad scientist on a caffeine bender, then congrats, you’ve found your jam.
First up, let’s talk about “Rebel.” Oh man, this track is everywhere on the album—there’s the original version, an AC Slater remix, and even something called the TrollPhace Remix Mode. It’s basically the Beyoncé of the LP: demanding attention and refusing to be ignored. The AC Slater remix, though? Absolute fire emoji. It’s got this chunky bassline that slaps harder than your grandma’s mashed potatoes, but with a groove so slick it could slide right off the table. You can tell AC Slater had fun flipping this one—he took the rebel spirit of the original and gave it a funky, house-infused makeover. It’s the kind of beat that makes you wanna strut down the street like you own the place, even if you’re just heading to the grocery store for milk.
Then there’s “War Of The Roses,” the title track, which hits different. This one leans heavy into glitch territory, sounding like someone chopped up a robot DJ’s setlist and glued it back together with duct tape. But here’s the kicker—it works. There are these eerie, almost cinematic moments where the synths swell up like they’re auditioning for a sci-fi movie soundtrack, only to drop you straight into a wobbly bass abyss. It’s moody, unpredictable, and honestly kinda genius. Every time I hear it, I imagine myself as the protagonist in some dystopian rave scene. Like, yeah, I’m out here saving humanity one drop at a time.
What’s wild about this album is how seamlessly it jumps between genres without feeling like it’s trying too hard. One minute you’re vibin’ to reggae-tinged melodies, and the next you’re getting pummeled by basslines that sound like they escaped from a video game boss fight. David Heartbreak clearly doesn’t care about fitting into any one box, and honestly? We stan.
So, what’s the takeaway here? The War Of The Roses is messy in all the best ways—like a perfectly imperfect collage of sounds that somehow still hangs together. It’s not gonna appeal to everyone (if you’re looking for chill background music, maybe don’t start here), but if you dig experimental electronic tunes that keep you guessing, this album’s a treasure trove.
And hey, here’s a random thought to leave you with: listening to this record feels like eating Pop Rocks and drinking soda at the same time. Sure, it might make your brain fizz over, but damn, isn’t it fun?
