Mazare and Newshapes Blur the Lines Between D&B and Metalcore in 'Ego Death'

Italian producer Mazare has never been particularly interested in staying inside the lines, and ‘Ego Death’, the title track from his latest EP, released via Universal Music Italia, makes that instinct impossible to miss. Teaming up with Glasgow alternative rock and post-hardcore outfit Newshapes, Mazare delivers a track that thrives on contrast, pairing atmospheric electronic production with the raw physicality of metalcore and drum & bass.

The track wastes little time establishing its cinematic foundations. A washed-out, sidechained synth pad creates a hazy sense of space beneath the compelling vocal presence of Newshapes frontman Ian Mann, allowing the tension to build with calculated restraint. Everything points towards the kind of huge EDM drop that listeners might expect from Mazare, but instead, ‘Ego Death’ takes a sharp left turn.

That balance between electronic control and live-band aggression is where ‘Ego Death’ really makes its mark. Mazare has spent the past six years developing a sound capable of moving between heavy metal-electronic hybrids and more melodic, pop-rock-infused territory, earning support from artists including SLANDER, Illenium, Seven Lions, Said The Sky, Dabin, Koven and Don Diablo along the way. With more than 35 million Spotify streams to his name, there is already a substantial audience for his genre-defying approach.

Newshapes, meanwhile, bring an authenticity to the heavier side of the record. Their blend of anthemic melodies, post-hardcore weight and emotionally direct songwriting gives ‘Ego Death’ an organic edge that complements Mazare’s precision-driven production. The result feels less like a conventional EDM-rock crossover and more like a genuine meeting point between two musical worlds.

There are clear echoes of the crossover energy pioneered by artists such as Pendulum, while the track’s combination of soaring vocals, breakneck rhythms and guitar-heavy impact also places it comfortably alongside the modern rock sensibilities of Bring Me The Horizon. Yet ‘Ego Death’ never feels overly nostalgic. Its appeal comes from the way it translates those influences into something contemporary, immediate and built for maximum impact.

Ultimately, ‘Ego Death’ demonstrates exactly why Mazare has become such an intriguing presence within the modern electronic landscape. It is melodic without becoming predictable, aggressive without sacrificing atmosphere, and relentlessly energetic without losing sight of the song underneath it all. For listeners who like their drum & bass with a little more bite, this is a collision worth experiencing.

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