Federico Augusto Ágreda Álvarez,[1] best known asZardonic, is aVenezuelansynthesist,DJ,composer,producer andremixer primarily known for his heavyelectronic dance music, dubbed as Venezuela's top DJ act[2] and one of the Top 10 best DJ masks in the world,[3] with releases peaking at #1 in Beatport's Drum & Bass releases of the week and Amazon's Hard Rock & Metal Bestsellers.[4] He is also featured in the gameWarlocks Vs Shadows, making him the first Latin American musician to be ever featured as a playable character in a video game.[citation needed] A remix with Mikey Rukus to his originalRevelation was used as the theme song of theAll Elite Wrestling pay-per-viewRevolution in 2020.[5]
Since 2004, his tour history includes headlining events in 40 countries.[6][7][8][9]
Federico's earlier projects include Venezuelan black metal project Gorepriest. With the release ofWar Against Humanity: The Armageddon Chronicles, he was awarded the Best Keyboardist category in the Premios Metal Hecho en Venezuela 2002–2003.[10]
Federico's first tracks as Zardonic were composed in 2004 and 2005, respectively in the albumsSubsonic Stigmata andRed Phasing, made available throughVeNet Music Development, a netlabel which released most of his early works.[11] His remix ofImpaled's trackGutless was also freely released this year on the band's website.[12]
First international events and worldwide releases (2006–2008)
In 2006 Zardonic's first vinyl was released throughDeath Brigade Records, becoming the first Venezuelan drum and bass producer to release a single in an international imprint.[13] Later this year, he also foundedZardonic Recordings, an independent drum and bassnetlabel.[14] His remix ofAvulsed's trackStabwound Orgasm was included on their compilation album entitledReanimations[15] and a remix ofGorgoroth's trackProcreating Satan was freely released through the band's website.[16]
In 2007 he was booked for his first international event in Mexico on 19 May.[17] Months laterAK1200, pioneer of the American Drum & Bass scene, selected Zardonic'sMoonlight Ceremony for hisWeapons of Tomorrow mixed compilation CD.[18] Soon after, his tunes earned the support of international performers such asDieselboy,Pendulum andJohn B.[19]
In 2008, his remix ofThe Berzerker'sCaught In The Crossfire was featured on the Digipak edition of the band's albumThe Reawakening.[20] In December, he was featured in theVenezuela Electrónica Vol. 3 compilation, sponsored by Venezuelan wireless telecommunications companyDigitel GSM andMotorola, by selling the newMOTOROKR EM30 mobile phone model together with amicroSD card including all the tracks.[21]
2009 marked the release of his trackPolicia, featuringJames Messinian on vocals, through American label Cymbalism Recordings,[22] becoming his first worldwide dancefloor hit, played by globetrotters likeAndy C andDJ Hype.[23] Soon after, Big Riddim Recordings released Zardonic's remix of AK1200's classicJunior's Tune.[24] In a Dieselboy interview for Broken Beats on May 8, Zardonic was named as one of the five outstanding artists in Drum & Bass at the time.[25]
In 2010, Zardonic toured Europe compiling a total of 12 gigs inSpain,Austria,Romania andBulgaria.[26] Shortly after, his studio mixRetaliation was released on drum and bass web siteDogsonacid.com paired with an in-depth interview.[27] The firstHuman Imprint release also happened this year, entitledSouth Of Human EP.[28] Later on, he headlined two Therapy Sessions events inEcuador[29] andArgentina,[30] as well as more gigs inColombia[31] andVenezuela.
In 2011, his track "Scream!" was picked as part of the Trackitdown.NetOne For The Weekend – 15th July 2011–50 Of The Biggest Recommendations For Your Mix bundle, together with tracks from artists likePaul Oakenfold, Lazy Rich, Darth & Vader,Teebee, Scott Brown, and many more.[32] The social networking website VampireFreaks.com released a free compilation with a total of 36 rare tracks by various artists includingKMFDM,Suicide Commando andLeft Spine Down, as well as Zardonic's mix of the track "Ready Or Not" by the latter.[33]
Vulgar Display Of Bass,Revolution and stage show costume (2012)
In 2012, Zardonic announced the release of a Full Length collaboration album entitledVulgar Display Of Bass on March 26 through Big Riddim Recordings, paired with a European tour for April and May. Highly acclaimed upon release, the album reached #1 on the Top Drum & Bass releases on leading online music storeBeatport.[34] An official video for the opening trackRevolution was produced and made public through video hosting networkYouTube on April 10.[35] The video consisted of a collage of crowd-based footage showing their country flags, with a total of 46 countries participating.[36][37]
The artist also revealed a new set of pictures wearing a mask based on the Zardonic logo, as a part of his stage show to be seen onDimmu Borgir's concert inCaracas as the opening act for the band.[38][39] Four of his new tracks were included again on Dieselboy's new mixtape for the year entitledWake The Dead[40] and a new collaboration track with UK dubstep duoBare Noize was included on a compilation album to be released on March 13 byOwsla, a label helmed by the 3-time Grammy winnerSkrillex.[41]
Later in the year, Zardonic celebrated his Latin American Tour 2012 with 26 stops in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brasil, Argentina, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico,[42] as well as headlining the Halloween Revolution event held in Tokyo, Japan.[43]
A remix album to the originalVulgar Display Of Bass was released on June 17, including a total of 12 reworks by Eye-D, Counterstrike, ANiMAL-MUSiC, Raptus, Neonlight, Black Sun Empire, State Of Mind, Angel, Gancher & Ruin, C-Netik & Fragz, Hectic Mau, Delta 9, Fiend and Hecq.[44][45] New shows were celebrated in Belgium, Austria, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador;[46] followed by the announcement of the Europa Beyond Bass Tour 2013 with 18 stops in Portugal, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Russia.[47]
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, an exclusive mix was released via YourEDM.com paired with an in-depth interview.[48]
On March 25 his electro remix of the Main Theme of theXbox /PS4 gameStrike Suit Zero, featuring Japanese Pop StarKOKIA, was released as part of a compilation of remixes of tracks from the game as originally produced by award-winning sound designer and composerPaul Ruskay.[49]
Later on, an exclusive record deal was signed witheOne Music for the new single "For Justice", released in December.[51] The single was reviewed as "a single that not only blends the best of both worlds, but does it in a highly polished and flawlessly produced way" by Intravenous Magazine[52] and "a track that deserves the repeat button for a never-ending roller coaster night ride" by 24OurMusic.[53] "For Justice" premiered on National U.S. radio onAmber Lynn's Talk ShowRock N Sexxxy Uncensored during a feature show together withRon Jeremy.[54]
Bring It On, Europe Tour,Warlocks vs Shadows,Antihero, Best DJ Award (2015)
Between April and July, Zardonic tours Europe with 20 stops in Portugal, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Romania.[58] As a result of a collaboration with polish company One More Level, Zardonic appears as a playable character in theWarlocks vs Shadows game for which he created his own sound effects and contributed with the tracksKickass andSideshow Symphony, taken from the album Vulgar Display Of Bass.[59]
The new albumAntihero is released onEntertainment One Music on September 18, 2015, totaling a compilation of 26 tracks including 11 original mixes, 6 instrumental mixes and 9 remixes spanning all styles and differentEDM genres.[60] Antihero peaked at #4 inTower Records Japan Hard & Heavy chart and #5 in the Western chart.[61]
In the Fifth Edition of the Unión Rock Show Awards held in Venezuela, Zardonic was nominated as Best DJ and Personality Of The Year, being awarded with the Best DJ category.[62]
World Tour, Huffington Post premiere, Artist Of The Year Award (2016)
Following the success of the Antihero release, Zardonic toured a total of 28 dates in 18 countries for his 2016 World Tour.[63][64][65][66] Highlights of the tour include theLoud Park Festival held annually in Japan at theSaitama Super Arena;[67] and Baroeg Open Air in the Netherlands withCaliban,Discharge,Arkona,Counterstrike and many more.[68] Several video captures of his tour and previous events can be seen in the official video of the singlePure Power, premiered onThe Huffington Post.[69]
For the Sixth Edition of the Unión Rock Show Awards, Zardonic was nominated as Best DJ and Artist Of The Year, with his 2015 album Antihero nominated for Best Album Cover and Album Of The Year. He was awarded with the Artist Of The Year category.[70]
