Hardwell & Armin van Buuren – Off The Hook [September 14 – Armada Music]

When a highly-demanded ID finally gets its turn to be released, the hype pretty much speaks for itself. When the turn around from preview to release is just four days, the hype is incredible. That’s exactly how Dutch superstars Hardwell and Armin van Buuren decided to handle the release of their next single, “Off The Hook”. The track has been an imperative part of both artists’ DJ sets, and had been floating around the Internet under the working title of “Next Level”. Hardwell most recent collaboration was with Dannic titled “Survivors,” while Armin van Buuren is preparing for the release of his sixth studio album, Embrace. “Off The Hook” will be released on both Armada Music and Revealed Recordings on September 14.

For the trance fans out there, this isn’t pure trance. For the house fans out there, this isn’t pure house. And that’s what makes this tune so great. Both Hardwell and Armin van Buuren have imparted their musical ability on “Off The Hook,” and the fusion is pretty cool to hear. The breakdown gets its melody from a creatively chopped synth that ends up creating a chord progression. It really harkens back to how Hardwell did his remix for Armin van Buuren‘s “Ping Pong”. That chord progression goes all over the place, before the tempo seems to slow down. It then speeds back with an absolutely tantalizing buildup as the drop comes closer and closer to reality. The drop has a big bass kick and a rolling bassline put together alongside the same chord progression of the breakdown. Trance elements mark the breaks in the drop, creating a sick fusion of big-room and trance.

Grab “Off The Hook” when it drops on September 14.