With the Monstercat vs. NCS debate reaching its final round, the “Sound Design Master” showdown is bringing the six-week battle to a massive conclusion. Representing Monstercat, heavyweights Virtual Riot and Tokyo Machine go head-to-head with NCS powerhouses Glitch Cat and prodBigMike, delivering two explosive tracks dropping Wednesday, September 16th, that will put everything on the line and determine which label takes the crown.
Finishing the showdown for Monstercat, Virtual Riot and Tokyo Machine reunite on “STATIC” to bring their complex, forward-thinking sound design together for a high-energy collision of bouncy house grooves, nostalgic gaming sounds, and hard-hitting production. With Tokyo Machine launching his project on Monstercat in 2016 and Virtual Riot first appearing on the label in 2013, their latest collaboration feels like a full-circle moment, especially after teaming up on the fan-favorite “The First Time” from Virtual Riot’s recent Monstercat album. Now, they’re running it back for the label’s 15-year anniversary, flipping late-’90s video game-inspired sounds through a modern lens to create a playful, jumpy anthem with plenty of weight behind it. The track not only celebrates their history with Monstercat, but also showcases exactly why both artists have earned their reputation as masters of pushing sound design forward.
Representing NCS in the showdown finale, Glitch Cat and prodBigMike answer back with “once more,” a robotic, dancefloor-ready complextro cut that fuses jazz-inspired touches with bouncy, high-energy electronic production. Packed with intricate sound design, futuristic textures, and infectious grooves, the track feels like the soundtrack to a high-speed gaming session, followed by something chaotic, playful, and impossible to sit still to. The track taps directly into NCS’s roots in gaming and internet culture while showcasing the label’s ability to turn detailed production into an adrenaline-fueled experience. After seeing success from NCS and Monstercat releases throughout the campaign, the collaboration arrives as a strong final contender for NCS, with Glitch Cat and prodBigMike pushing their sound design as the showdown’s closing statement.
Discovered back in 2011, NCS and Monstercat quickly became defining forces in internet music culture, introducing a generation of listeners to electronic music through YouTube, gaming, creator content, and online communities. As both labels grew, so did the crossover between their audiences, fueling a friendly rivalry that has kept fans debating which catalog reigns supreme for more than a decade. Now, 15 years later, NCS vs. Monstercat: 15 Year Anniversary turns that long-running debate into reality, bringing both sides together to celebrate the legacy they built, the communities that grew alongside them, and the artists pushing electronic music forward.
MONSTERCAT: WEBSITE | SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | X
NCS: WEBSITE | SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | X