Virtual Riot - Stealing Fire | Album First Listen! 🔥

[@Nawtystep]

This is one of the best reaction vids I’ve made yet - ENJOY ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Patreon link in description if you enjoy what I do, and want loads of extra content every month :) 👆

[@VirtualRiot]

Thank you for the review 💜 glad people are enjoying it ^-^

[@RadzHexz]

It's impossible not to enjoy at least a single track off this, you've really outdone yourself here bro

[@svdkxv]

we love you

[@mariokiller345]

THE GOAT IS HERE 🔥🔥🔥 Love the album man

[@valeriodepino9376]

thank you so much for your music

[@JiroToDeath]

My goat. Forever my goat. Thank you for existing.

[@yyeahsure]

this album caused a unprecedented amount of pauses and rewinds on the stream. WHO ELSE BUT VIRTUAL RIOT??

[@kikilafrite09]

teminite also does that but cmon those two guys are just legends out of their league

[@drairirae3741]

VR has finally reached that point where you can call him some of the best artists to ever come out in this genre

[@charbydis4634]

Simulation Album was already stacked and cracked

[@altairdub]

he's had that title since 2014 imo

[@laregalade3069]

its literally the same music as before, nothing new and simulation was way better

[@nerocladius4319]

i'd go as far as say hes one of the pioneers/best producer of sub-genres and genres, its crazy how influential his work is and hes been going at it 10 years ago if not more, hes crazy good

[@wooyaa8152]

Virtual Riot HAS to be in the convo for one of the best artists dubstep has seen (at least 2010s-2020s). Both this and simulation are absolutely amazing albums in my opinion, and that’s not even mentioning his amazing EP run with eps like German engineering. I really hope VR keeps the approach he has rn of kind of hunkering down for a while and focusing on albums instead of just singles and EPs because it is really working imo.

[@nombresculiaostodosocupadoswn]

It's not even a debate, he definetly is one of the goats :)

[@orokamonooooo]

hehe wooyaa spotted hiiiiiiiiiii

[@wooyaa8152]

@@orokamonooooo it’s been a while since I’ve been in this space lol

[@orokamonooooo]

@@wooyaa8152 same but it's always a pleasant surprise to see you around man

[@edexymusic]

Hey WooYaa, glad to see you there!

[@elapsed5943]

Unapologetically virtual riot. Felt so many emotions and nostalgia when noticing samples here and there, felt like a tribute to his blow up roots with his track “idols”, amazing work from VR 🔥❤ Edit: also such a good observation at the end by Connor about how the title “stealing fire” maybe came about cause of the amount of sampling he does in this album but still makes all the work uniquely his but including them as homages to bass music heritage. (I didn’t interpret the title in that way until mentioned..)

[@robertkennedy9369]

Just thought about the edit and came see If anyone Else mentioned

[@claridge7549]

I believe it’s one of the most unique albums in music this year. Not just EDM. Clarity, mix, sound design, composition. This is yet another album that shows electronic dance music is here to stay.

[@cburg]

Technological masterpiece from VR once again.

[@alikoneko]

This album was pure heat from start to finish, and you can hear the Skrillex influence the whole way through. This might be album of the year for me tbh

[@charbydis4634]

Might be... why so indecisive? :P

[@altairdub]

@@charbydis4634 because syzy's album exists

[@IKIGAIofficial]

Yep. For me last year was INZO. This year VR. Best album since “save yourself”

[@altairdub]

@@charbydis4634because syzys album exists

[@robertkennedy9369]

True!

[@the27thkars93]

love these, this was definitely something different from my n1 producer since 2012 💯

[@jakaaditya3919]

At the end of the song entitled "reconnect", virtual riot uses the melody from Skrillex's song entitled "with you, friends"

[@YesTheyAreUnderrated]

I haven't heard a lot of Virtual Riot lately, but had a keen eye to what he was uploading. This is truly a step up, and I would never be expecting this from this guy. Absolute banger.

[@sakethkulapaka7820]

24:18 VR worked on Too Bizarre. Read a story on him hitting up Swae Lee excited about that song release and Swae Lee not recognizing VR 😂

[@spencert94]

My favorite parts were actually probably in the second half. I think Reconnect 2:00-2:30 may be my favorite part of the whole album. As usual though VR songs have so much going on I tend to like them more the more I listen to them.

[@shellwhale8994]

Oh my god the chorus of Holding On To Smoke is suuuch a bummer! That 1min40 intro is such a setup, this really really good, you really expect to hear Raven Gray hitting those higher notes in a loud chorus but all there is to hear is this repetitive synth without any lyrics! I feel the track could have been an absolute massive hit with really proper chorus with maybe something more dramatic with some guitar-ish bass and some growls. It's really obvious you were surprised as well @Nawtystep because your eyes don't lie at 31:40 and then your eyebrows at 31:59 like "oh ? mhm okay" And then bridge, oh my god again, so freaking good, the shivers, so much power waiting to be unleashed but the same mistake is made again!

[@Jasperr9999]

Was excited to hear your thoughts, Connor. I can say I definitely agree with you on pretty much everything, that the first handful of tracks are some of the best he's made but most of the rest just fall a little more flat. Though some tracks have really grown on me like VROOM (I really didn't like it on first listen but after hearing it a few times I really love it). Overall though very solid album from VR and one I'll definitely listen to a lot. I'd personally give it an 8/10

[@Kailuam]

36:27 Eliminate mentioned!

[@yaboidiego]

It’s called stealing fire because he has taken the top most iconic samples in bass music and fleshed them out in the tracks… subtle, yet genius!

[@JayFreshman1]

Loved the review and listen! You have a ton of heart in the way you enjoy bass music. Love to see it.

[@rebirth4119]

Something that is interesting about "There Goes Your Money"(since Connor mentioned it) is that all the songs were originally single single self releases. I believe his manager at the time knew someone who worked for Section Z (Savant's label) and contacted him. The label was completely fine with taking already released stuff(tbf Virtual Riot wasn't well known at the time) and rereleasing it in an album format. VR said it actually did pretty well for the time too.

[@NeonBeeCat]

Dino killer really sounds like virtual riot sat down and said "what if i made the most massive track possible"

[@jerryswags79]

Drop could’ve been heavier imo

[@IKIGAIofficial]

Imo… hes the best dubstep producer in the game. The wide array of chords and genres, the creation of new sounds, the masterful complex layering, Its inspiring.

[@uSuKid]

that burial part gave me goosebumps tho not gonna lie, the sample was originally from an usher song btw

[@djdivile]

It’s so kewl that he sampled Burial multiple times over the album, he even sampled the drums from Ghost Hardware towards the end of Stealing Fire as well

[@jo-mi4966]

Good to see you on here again Connor - it felt like you'd disappeared for a while, but maybe I've just been missing your videos/KZbin notifications recently. My personal thoughts - I've been a huge VR fan for years and I gave the new album a listen. There are some real gems and magical moments and VR 's tech is better than ever. However, I've been listening to dubstep and bass music less and less and coming back to it, I really feel like I'm getting tired of the ultra heavy compressed nature of it all. As much as I understand the reasoning behind it, which makes sense, I really hope that dubstep starts to become more dynamic. I could only listen to 4 or 5 tracks from Stealing Fire before my ears started to fatigue, quickly. Anyway, that's just a little rant about the state of Dubstep in general. Complaints aside, big congrats to VR for the release, plenty of creativity, hard hitting moments, and VR feels to me, to be heading into a really good space, personally, and musically. It feels like he's feeling more creative freedom and really entering a new stage of his career.

[@MJ-qd3jg]

Been waiting for your upload since it came out I was checking KZbin every day couple of times

[@rryjal]

its made me very happy to see one of the greatest creatives in this space be celebrated so widely, crazy just how much even the best can level up their game

[@KhamisMusic]

Thank you for being so active again recently. Missed your videos 🙏

[@bassti-music]

Great Reaction!

[@Rafutah]

Love the vid! VR is just a mastermind

[@tim3line]

18:52 I think I get it now, all or most of these tracks are a homage to bass music over the last two decades. STEALING FIRE from FIRE artists

[@KarsonLukert-he1tg]

This is brilliant, I have always loved VR always will

[@Davi-fo8gg]

WE GOT VIRTUAL RIOT TEAROUT BEFORE GTA6

[@hobabo9703]

Believe What You Want is so incredibly good it's crazy. While the album wasn't a super big hit for me like Simulation was, I think the concept of "stealing" fire is really dope

[@jerryswags79]

The VIP album is going to be insane 🔥

[@Dimenimations]

Ngl, Need / Get is my most fav from this entire album, cos it exactly sounds like a MADZI and Guy Arthur collab lol

[@TallerTrout]

This LP wasn’t bad but I feel like Simulation had more life to it. Some songs in this album start phenomenal but then they turn into festival bangers with way too much sampling or fake drops. I’ve heard that Monstercat changes song’s composition to make them more mainstream but I don’t think that happened with this album. It all just sounds like it was made to get VR’s music to appeal to and reach more people.

[@erdyuri]

my goat, super good album

[@BrokenString15]

I've only heard the album myself once and heard bits here with Connor but I feel like he stretched himself to thin in this album.. I miss the colour and flavour that simulation and his old EPs had... it just doesn't feel like a VR album, not saying it's bad the production is brilliant as always I'm just missing his personality in this album

[@claridge7549]

I think the personality is there on this album. It’s just done with meticulous sound design. Don’t mistake the hard chugs for a lack of expression lol. I think maybe listening again with that thought going into it might change your mind.

[@wa2k360]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@4mplitude]

the more i hear this album the more i pick up on the main issue i think Give In To You has, which is i dont really hear virtual riot. the drums sound like his (similar ones used on Continue) and some good vr bass shots here and there, but i dont know what else he did, so to me GITY stands out but not really in an 'lord this is amazing way' but like a sore thumb

[@jonasbombardelli]

Some SPLICE samples LOOL askkaskas

[@titoprepu4860]

He's proven again why he's the goat.

[@hogibunz834]

Dino killer should have been a dis track. Excision these days is dog crap compared to Val. This album was the best one I’ve heard this year, absolutely mad.

[@plazali]

8:44-9:01 I mean look at the album title

[@Mimi.the.legend]

Hahahaha

[@nazifranz7052]

👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽

[@cornsandbeans]

GERMAN ENGINEER AT WORK ONCE AGAIN‼️🗣️

[@tim3line]

New Energy feels very Snails House

[@PianoScoreVids]

i honestly cant believe the Produktion on this. what is going on

[@noahkiefer956]

same 12:35

[@rump438]

Rezz collab is the worst track imo. It's literally every Rezz tun ever.

[@cburg]

yup the collabs were not needed in this album. Obv just there to do numbers

[@turtleboi4571]

I don't get how rezz is more popular than most other artists because there's so many more creative artists

[@Jasperr9999]

I'm not a huge Rezz fan but I'll say she's made much better before. The collab is just unfortunately some very flat midtempo

[@somedude4487]

It's better the the rezz and subtronics collab at least

[@MRH34DS40T98]

@@Jasperr9999 yeah Rezz’s older stuff is heat and much better than what she’s making right now. Like her last Album was pretty meh and her music quality has been going very slowly down over the years in a creative fashion. She just isn’t as great as what she once was 4-6 years ago but the hype train is still alive around her name. Not to hate on her or anything cause I am a huge fan but it’s just clear at this point

[@uSuKid]

1 rewind for beutnoise coconut and 2 rewinds for dino killer??? like one s one of the most freshest ideas for its time great production and impact and one s just an excision track. i call gaslighting hehehe

[@reflekta_music]

When i heard the LP Title, and then heard the album, i understood why it was called that. He's stealing fire samples off other tunes 🤣🔥

[@phnxsu]

no one does it like vr

[@maxxiom]

Germany Conquering us again 🫡

[@m9643]

It’s a good album, just not very cohesive. Some serious bangers though. Loved stealing fire, since it felt different for VR.

[@jaierrescott8886]

Drinkurcoffee

[@k0mmand]

I think this album officially broke Connor

[@johntruman2126]

Simulation was the better album by far, way more creativity and less tracks that fell flat for me. That being said this is still good, but a tad disappointing.

[@Pico_444]

Good album but holding on to smoke was such a letdown idk what he was thinking ngl

[@slghtmedia]

unfortunately i think this is my least favorite collection of tunes from VR. they all really feel like they’re missing the character and experimentation that usually defines his stuff. very clean, but maybe too focused on production / sound design and not on musicality for a lot of the album

[@peterpyaarkar]

You’re absolutely right! I’ve been a fan of virtual riot for a long time and always will be, but this album just doesn’t hit the nerve. While I still appreciate his sound design, I miss the musicality. This one feels a bit rushed and more basic.. “Simulation,” his previous album, had a lot of standout tracks like “Rewrite,” “Back in Time,” and “Dreaming” some of my all-time favorites. In comparison, this release feels more mid-tier.

[@uSuKid]

"all sorts of goated old school samples...-joyryde??" mate i dont think joyryde is goated old school classified, he s still very much in the business

[@Nawtystep]

@@uSuKid you can clearly see those clips aren’t connected, that’s a different thought process altogether :) that House part with the horns sounds like Joyryde

[@holorival]

I like this album, but for me there is no BANGER BANGER track like so sorry or redline in Simulation. I can see myslef forgetting this album in a few years. But I'll give it more time

[@t4misca]

Completely agree

[@dreadformer]

star destroyer is banger banger imo

[@DanielX1999]

i honestly had the same initial reaction but now that i’ve listened more i’m recognizing the highlights. Stealing Fire is for sure my fav :3

[@kikilambo2033]

Imo, every genre in this album sounds great except for the dubstep. Like theres just smthn lacking from it, makes it seem kinda outdated in this age. Not enjoyable to listen to :((

[@OUTLAW-gr4qe]

fax

[@dreadformer]

i think its the drums

[@turtleboi4571]

I agree with most other people's opinions that this album is alot messier than other projects he's put out and that simulation is definitely a more fleshed out and better album

[@Tactix_se]

I have not heard on person say this until now

[@peterpyaarkar]

anything b4 this album is phenomenal’

[@CamelliaFlingert]

i don't understand riddim/colour bass, this genre is just not my cup of tea, i expected the sound of something like his album "The Classics" had, which i adore, but here instead is just some goofy ahh drops, which is impossible to listen to seriously, i really unable to comprehend this, what the joy of listening to non-melodic music? sound design? well, neuro-hop is a pinnacle of sound design but it's sounds much more beautiful and melodic and not as some goofy ahh music, take KOAN Sound, Alydian, Rhino Betatron, EnnoaeON, Vayre or Stasys for example. Or take Epic Collage and the artist called Thorjn. sorry if this sounds a little bit rude or offensive, i have no intention to insult anyone or anything here, just stating my feelings and opinion

[@yogimartin4426]

Simulation is much better than this

[@ButtaDawg6969]

The melodic stuff was the highlight for me

[@Th_exclamation_mark_s_Guy]

agreed honestly, VR's recent LP isn't too bad imo

[@MageshSridhar_55]

This album disappointed me and it's no where close to Simulation. Songs like Need/Get and Ridiculous starts super strong and falls off quickly. The last drop in Ridiculous is completely random and different from the entire first half of the song. The nostalgic touches with the old samples were really good but overall it's meh.

[@TheJittering]

I am not a fan of this album unfortunately; it sounds weirdly uninspired and boring for Virtual Riot. The mixing is also shockingly weak, making the songs sound very unimpactful.

[@ZackSussmanMusic]

I’m curious, what don’t you like about the mixing? It sounds super clean to me (the only parts where I didn’t like the mix was some stuff in ridiculous)

[@TheJittering]

@@ZackSussmanMusic The songs simply sounded empty or lacking in content, and sometimes they sounded like there wasn’t enough high end.

[@ZackSussmanMusic]

@@TheJittering I can see this perspective, I think VR tries to avoid harshness at some cost of an occasional lack of high end. There are moments where it could feel more full for sure, but I do appreciate that it almost never hurts my ears!