Turn Back the Clock with Nero's "Innocence" [#TBT]

Nero’s “Innocence” is a melodic and sonically intricate track that will forever be one of my favorite dubstep tunes.

We all can sing “Promises” at the top of our lungs, but “Innocence” by Nero is undoubtedly my favorite track by this electronic band. With a strikingly alluring chord progression introducing the song, “Innocence” features silky transitions and a ricochet of bass that wraps you up in a haunting embrace.

I love tracks with titles that accurately depict the song and its elements, and “Innocence” does exactly that. The combination of the orchestral sound waves and soft vocals fully resemble the song’s title. Like waves crashing tumultuously in the ocean, a surge of dubstep rips rhythmically through the tranquil harmonies. “Innocence” carries just the right amount of sheer emotion and heavy sound design to make for a stunning track.

With Nero performing at Lost Lands 2018, I can’t wait to hear them play this song. Few dubstep tracks can tug at my heartstrings like this one, and I can’t imagine how monumental it will be hearing it live. As much as I love the gritty and filthy dubstep bangers that circulate amongst producers’ sets, I wish I heard more of Nero, and particularly more of “Innocence”. There’s a sense of delicacy in its sound design that is absent from the grimy bass popularized today, and it adds something truly special to the listening experience.

Recently, Nero band members Dan Stephens and Alana Watson have announced a side project entitled The Night. Described as having an almost “R&B meets future bass” vibe, The Night released a track called “Different Story” back in March. Though it is extremely different from the Nero we know and love, we can appreciate the evolution Nero and its members are undergoing, and we hope to expect a Nero reboot in the near future.