Justice's 2024 Return Gets More Real As Duo Tease New Music

The new Justice teaser gave Ed Banger boss Busy P goosebumps — and we share that experience.

In June of last year, Ed Banger Records Founder Busy P made it known that a Justice comeback was imminent. The French blog house duo have now shared a preview of music from their upcoming album, and it straddles the fine line between remaining on brand and incorporating popular underground sounds of the moment.

Synced to footage of a VU meter, the 30-second clip of Justice’s as-yet-unnamed track introduces one of the duo’s slowly trudging yet intense and ominous beats. It also brings something new to their sound signature. A heavily distorted Hoover synth lead occasionally punctuated by Korg piano stabs hints at the classic ’90s hardcore influences that have bubbled back to the surface from underground dance music in recent years.

Busy P (real name Pedro Winter) compared the significance of the new album with that of Justice’s most famous record, † (also known as Cross), in conversation with NME back in October. “Listening to Cross, I had goosebumps – I loved each and every note of this record, and I have goosebumps when I’m listening to the forthcoming [2024] Justice album, too,” he said.

Judging from the teaser alone, we agree with Winter’s assessment. All pontification about Justice’s sound signature and new influences aside, the track just plain hits.

Justice was formed by Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, who first released music under the moniker in 2003. Their first release to gain traction was a remix of “Never Be Alone” by Simian, which was later renamed “We Are Your Friends” as it enjoyed rereleases on bigger and bigger labels. Cross vaulted the duo into a higher echelon of fame, however. The 12-song album earned them GRAMMY Awards nominations as well as billings at festivals like Coachella, Fuji Rock Festival, and T in the Park.

Cue up Justice’s 2024 music teaser, and look out for more from the French duo in the coming months.