eXcubitors – Underrated

Future pop with attitude: eXcubitors challenge the scene

Once again, eXcubitors deliv­er their eXcubitors – Underrated (Cover art­work) that instantly ignites. "Underrated" starts with dense wobble sounds and pre­cise, very present beats that you simply can't escape. The chorus—incredibly captivating—is one of those moments where the old 2000s future pop spir­it reignites for me. This catchi­ness works not because it's pleas­ing, but because it feels uncom­prom­isingly honest.

What par­tic­u­larly grabs me this time are the trans­itions between the song parts. They nev­er seem con­struc­ted, but organ­ic, almost as if the track itself were breath­ing. Each part flows seam­lessly into the next, and that's exactly what makes Underrated a real listen­ing pleas­ure for me. Even the bridge is anoth­er high­light with eXcubitors. The subtly woven vocal samples that pop up here and there are imme­di­ately remin­is­cent of Apoptygma Berzerk's “Welcome To Earth” / “Harmonizer” phase.

Lyrically, eXcubitors strike a chord that I know all too well: the frus­tra­tion of see­ing the same faces get­ting the slots at the big fest­ivals. It has less to do with art than with con­nec­tions – who­ever pays decides, and some people get left out. Underrated cap­tures this spir­it bril­liantly. The lyr­ics come across as a silent protest, a con­fid­ent wink to all those who con­tin­ue to burn brightly des­pite not hav­ing “back­stage keys”. I don't hear resig­na­tion here, but attitude.

Listen to "eXcubitors – Underrated" on Spotify

Listen to "eXcubitors – Underrated" on Spotify

Lyrics of "eXcubitors – Underrated"

I pass through doors that nev­er stay
Their voices shift, then drift away
Their names are logged before they play
I write what lasts the quiet way
Their invites move from hand to hand
While I still write in silent sand

We are the ones you nev­er see
Still stand­ing strong, still break­ing free
No bor­rowed fame, no back­stage key
But we keep burn­ing quietly

They choose the loud, the well-connected
And leave the true, the unexpected
We don’t adjust, we don't pretend
We build the truth they won’t defend
No vel­vet ropes, no plastic smiles
Just miles and miles and miles and miles

We are the ones you nev­er see
Still stand­ing strong, still break­ing free
No bor­rowed fame, no back­stage key
But we keep burn­ing quietly

We are the ones you nev­er see
Still stand­ing strong, still break­ing free
No bor­rowed fame, no back­stage key
But we keep burn­ing quietly

We keep burning
We keep burning
But we keep burning
We keep burning
We keep burning
We keep burning
We keep burn­ing quietly