From a hushed sideline curiosity that sprouted in 2017 into a full-on sonic reckoning, Cali Three's path has been anything but normal. But on his new single, "Smash It," the alternative pop-rock provocateur redefines what it feels like to be unstoppable. Augmented by an airtight trio, the Cali Three's stranglehold of a lead vocalist, a bassist in thunderous top form, and a percussionist with a heartbeat in slam mode, the project reaches a boil on the new track. "Smash It" is a battle cry for anyone needing a soundtrack to triumph and one of recent memory's most joyous fight anthems. It's alternative rock, it's rap metal, it's whatever, just don't call it subtle.
When the first riffs begin to scorch, dirty and relentless, and wired together like a live current, there's a force at play. The bandmates' chemistry is bright around as room sound, layer by layer, accumulates to a headbang-able crescendo. Cali Three rides the beat with a blend of sheer brute force and slick melodic phrasing, putting off the kind of intensity that comes from deep roots, in his case, a father who's a pro singer himself and a lifelong inspiration. "Smash It" soars in its brazen genre-blending. Rap metal adds punch ferocity and alternative rock gives it a radio-ready backbone. This is a track that keeps you guessing while wanting more.
Beyond just a banger, the song includes a whiff of personal triumph throughout every note. You can hear the years of evolution in the project, the carefully nurtured bloodline of a sound as soulful as seismic. Cali Three has been patient, and it pays off. Amid a sea of forgettable drops and streaming noise, "Smash It" has the nerve to stand front and center. Turn it up, let it rip, and tap into the electric pulse of a band that's finally, gloriously staking its claim at the center of the stage. Cali Three is smashing expectations in the face.
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