Known for treating every release as a fully realized world rather than simply a
collection of songs, Cruel Santino once again expands the boundaries of contemporary African music with the release of his new album K.O.T.B – The Bomberman Chronicles.

While Santino’s new album further fleshes out the Subaru Boys world, it’s even more so a deeply personal excavation of Santino’s interior life. That doesn’t mean it’s heavy: the weight of some of his most vulnerable songwriting to date sits under some of his most visceral production yet, where orchestral flourishes meet timeless grooves, sweeping synths, and drums that race like adrenalized heartbeats. In texture, Kings of the Bounce is where Final Heaven meets Mandy & the Jungle, a place where any listener can tap into the frequency that best suits them,
be it one of triumph, thrill, or grief.

Grief was central to Santino in the making of KOTB, as he worked through the sudden death of a close friend with whom he lived as he nurtured his craft growing up. Set 3000 years before the Final Heaven arc, KOTB follows well-marketed arms dealers aimed at destroying the sea creatures before the humans knew to live in harmony with them. In the shadowy world of intelligence and warfare, alliances shift and relationships become ephemeral, much like they do
in death. As Santino processed his own experiences with safety, community, commodification, and trying to lead a life of purpose as a young Nigerian, he poured his reflections into the sound and storyline. The name Kings of the Bounce doubles as that of a new, highly coveted series of weapons in the plot and a sly reference to the status of Santino and his collaborators’ distinct,
real world rhythms.

Cruel Santino blends genre and visual storytelling into a singular creative vision with K.O.T.B – The
Bomberman Chronicles. The album follows Cruel Santino’s latest singles “Big Drop”, “International Collector” and “Oz,” which are all included on the new record. The singles pair Santino’s understated melodic delivery with atmospheric production and fluid percussion, reflecting the global perspective that has long defined his artistry. With K.O.T.B – The Bomberman Chronicles, Cruel Santino continues to push beyond conventional genre boundaries, building an expansive creative universe where music and mythology intersect.

Listen to K.O.T.B – The Bomberman Chronicles here.