There are EPs that soundtrack a night out, and then there are EPs that turn the dancefloor into something deeper, darker, and far more confrontational. MERTDER’s ‘Carnal Riot’ belongs firmly in the latter category, demanding introspection as it plays.
Across its four tracks, the EP unfolds like a fevered manifesto. Opening with ‘Hussy’, the tone is set immediately as something jagged, volatile, and pulsing with intent. The production hits hard, but what lingers is the sense of internal conflict being dragged into the open and reshaped through rhythm.
That sense of tension carries into ‘Glass’, where repetition becomes a weapon. The track loops and circles, mirroring the very systems it critiques, creating a hypnotic, almost suffocating atmosphere. It’s relentless in its structure, forcing us to sit within its patterns rather than escape them.
Then comes ‘Whoredom’, which flips the tone without losing the bite. There’s a swagger that leans into humour and provocation, but beneath it lies something sharper. It’s a track that challenges, questions, and refuses to conform, using playfulness as a vehicle for something far more pointed. The groove pulls you in, but the ideas keep you there.
While closing track ‘Geisha’ feels like a shift in perspective. There’s a lightness to the surface, but it’s layered with an exploration of what it means to create, give, and exist within a world that constantly demands performance. It’s a fitting conclusion that reframes the EP’s tensions.
‘Carnal Riot’ thrives on contrast as harsh textures collide with moments of clarity, dense production gives way to space, and intensity is constantly offset by restraint. It’s a carefully constructed chaos that feels alive and unpredictable without ever losing its sense of direction.
What makes the EP so compelling is its refusal to separate body and mind. These tracks hit physically while carrying a deeper emotional and thematic weight. MERTDER understands that the dancefloor can be more than escapism; it can be a place of confrontation, release, and transformation.
