ISOKNOCK Shows Signs of Greatness on ‘4EVR’

ISOxo and Knock2 joined forces at ISOKNOCK earlier this year, and now the duo has dropped their debut album on 88rising, 4EVR.

It’s been impossible to ignore the rise of ISOxo and Knock2 over the past few years. The two San Diego natives have been on an absolute tear in the scene, packing crowds at underground shows and festivals while delivering massive hits along the way. When the two joined forces as ISOKNOCK, it made absolute sense that the energy was through the roof. This b2b was first seen as early as 2019, but a sold-out, four-night run at The Shrine last year propelled them to Coachella, where they played the revered Sahara Tent.

What defines ISOxo and Knock2 is their rockstar-like attitude and maximalist productions. They’ve leaned into this heavily as ISOKNOCK, and their debut album, 4EVR, includes eight tracks that fully showcase their unique twist on trap, experimental bass, and more. Yet, while their take on electronic music might fit the current era of the scene, filled to the brim with larger-than-life beats and boundary-pushing sounds, I wouldn’t go so far as to label the duo as “Anti-EDM” as others have.

The lead track, “THRASH (PARTY STARTER),” is clearly meant to ignite a fire in crowds, and that’s exactly what it does. ISOKNOCK kicks everything into gear with sirens that feel like they’ve been ripped straight out of The Purge before dropping into a mainstage-ready melody and vocal chops that lead to an energetic drop. The final drop features rawstyle kicks for a surprising treat, but that’s the only time they dive into the harder realm.

What follows that tune are three bass house-fueled tracks: “TROUBLE,” “ENERGY” with Bantu, and “PAIN.” All three feature vocal samples, layered elements that add complexity, and punchy, drum-filled basslines that slam you into a wall. There are moments to groove, but these evoke a sense that you’ll be jumping around or opening up the pit instead.

“SMACK TALK” is arguably the best track on 4EVR. After all, there was no doubt they’d deliver a trap gem, with RL Grime joining in on the fun. It also heavily embraces the elements that have defined “EDM” over the past decade, though. The slowed intro paints a larger-than-life picture as it swells with energy before dropping you into a booming, party-ready beat filled with trap horns and more. Close your eyes while listening to this one, and you’ll be thrown straight back to a festival mainstage a decade ago.

“SIGNAL” with Dava and “4EVR” with cade clair capture a similar essence. The former retains that mainstage-forward sound by pairing dynamic samples with sultry vocals, while the latter drives forward with its groovy, almost trance-like synths, bumping bassline, and spacey elements. Meanwhile, “BLIND,” is the sole tune that turns the energy down a notch with its introspective lyrics, piano keys, and guitar solo that takes hold of your soul.

After listening to the album from start to finish, it’s difficult to say this is “Anti-EDM.” In fact, 4EVR fits right in with the maximalist nature of the current era of the EDM scene. While these tunes from ISOKNOCK are genre-defying at their core, they also show off the two artists’ musical influences firmly rooted in the bygone sounds of festival mainstages. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad album; its flourishes of nostalgia met with forward-thinking production make it stand tall.

Listen to 4EVR on Spotify or your preferred platform, and follow these two phenoms on social media to stay tuned for more from ISOKNOCK.

Stream ISOKNOCK – 4EVR on Spotify:

ISOKNOCK – 4EVR – Tracklist:

THRASH (PARTY STARTER)

TROUBLE

ENERGY (with Bantu)

PAIN

SMACK TALK (with RL Grime)

SIGNAL (with Dava)

BLIND (with Araya and Sur Black)

4EVR (with cade clair)