Hardwell‘s new single “XTC” doesn’t offer answers—just a floor-thumping invitation to lose yourself in the search. Since resurrecting his storied career after a four-year hiatus, Hardwell has strayed from his uplifting anthems of yesteryear in favor of a darker sound, transforming into an architect of spine-chilling, escapist bangers. His latest release, “XTC,” is a dazzling expansion of this approach.

The track finds Hardwell descending into the underbelly of techno with an uncompromising bassline and kick drums that pierce like ice against bare skin. The lyrics crackle with existential angst, offering a sardonic “life’s a game” countered by a desperate plea for escape: “I need some fire.” At a breakneck BPM of 140, its frantic rhythm mirrors that internal struggle, thrumming with restless energy.