After years of EPs, live shows and establishing himself as a recognizable name within the rawstyle scene, the moment has finally arrived: Cryex has released his very first album. RΞSURGΞNCΞ, released via End Of Line Recordings, marks what Levi himself describes as a “rebirth”, both musically and personally.
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The album was created in roughly four months and ultimately became much more than just a collection of tracks. “I got the fire back and started creating purely from what I feel and what I stand for as an artist,” Levi explains. Despite the personal themes throughout the album, he wanted to keep the music danceable. “The perfect balance between telling stories and completely letting loose.”
With RΞSURGΞNCΞ, Cryex aims to return to the core of rawstyle. “With all the extreme music being played right now, we sometimes lose the emotion and drive,” he says. “I’ve always been right in the middle: hard, but with feeling.” That familiar Cryex sound returns on the album in a more modern form, featuring powerful melodies, overdrive kicks and influences from genres such as metal and rock.
From live show to full album
Interestingly, an album was never part of the original plan. When development started on RΞSURGΞNCΞ LIVE last year, an EP seemed much more realistic. But that quickly changed.“After a few months, Levi suddenly came with six or seven demos and hundreds of ideas,” says Sharon from Cryex’s management team. “That’s when it started to feel like something much bigger than an EP.”
Later that year, the decision was officially made to turn the project into a full-length album. According to his team, the process eventually became “one big therapy session” in which Levi rediscovered his passion for music and creativity.
A new yet familiar Cryex sound
Although Cryex is entering a new chapter with this album, he never wanted to abandon his roots. According to management, the goal was to bring back the familiar Cryex feeling while giving it a modern edge. “The kicks, melodies and drive bring back that recognizable Cryex feeling,” they explain. “At the same time, his arrangements and influences from other styles, such as metal and rock, have helped evolve the sound.”
By doing so, Cryex aims to strike a balance between nostalgia and innovation, something he feels has become increasingly rare within rawstyle.
The phoenix as a symbol of rebirth
The theme of rebirth runs throughout the entire project. According to management, the phoenix symbolizes the new chapter Cryex is entering, a concept reflected in the visuals, outfits and artwork surrounding the album.
For the artwork, a white canvas was deliberately combined with the colorful visual style that Cryex has become known for over the years. It brings together both the old and the new chapters of Cryex into a single visual identity.
The intro of RΞSURGΞNCΞ LIVE also directly references this concept. In the opening sequence, Levi appears in his old Band Of Color outfit, playing a game in which he encounters various obstacles before ultimately reaching a “game over” moment. He is then symbolically lifted back up again, a clear reference to the rebirth that lies at the heart of the album.
“The opposite of depression is expression”
Perhaps the most personal aspect of the album can be found in the message included inside the CD booklet. There, Levi openly reflects on the difficult period he has experienced over the past few years. “It has been a journey with ups and downs,” he writes. “I had to find myself again, work on myself and learn how to live with myself again.”
According to Levi, all of those emotions can be heard throughout the album. “The opposite of depression is expression. And so I did exactly that.”
In the same message, he thanks End Of Line, his management team, his fans and Scarra for their support throughout the process.
Last-minute pressure for the title track
One final fun fact: the title track Resurgence was literally the last track completed for the album. While the arrangement was already in place, the final details still had to be finished as the deadline rapidly approached. Eventually, the track was completed on April 9, just one day before Rebirth Festival. After that, everything immediately had to move into the final mixing and mastering stages.
There was no room left for mistakes or major adjustments. With RΞSURGΞNCΞ, Cryex officially begins a new chapter. Not a complete reset, but a rediscovery of his own sound: raw, emotional and harder than ever.
Cryex – RΞSURGΞNCΞ is now available on all streamingplatforms via End Of Line Recordings.
Footage via: Cryex / End Of Line
