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Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking is a multi-genre music project started in 2011 by Sean Harper. With releases ranging from EDM and trance to nu metal and industrial, Groundbreaking focuses on themes of depression, addiction, technology and the state of society. Between 2011-2014 the project self-released three albums and two EPs for free download before making it's official 'debut' with the Devastator EP in the fall of 2014, followed by the full-length 'We Are Monsters' in 2015. Around this time, Groundbreaking started writing 'nerdcore' songs, most notably for hit indie games Five Nights at Freddy's and Undertale, which helped boost the official YouTube page. In 2016 two full-length albums were released, including the projects first concept album Anarchy, and Hurt, which was notable for being the first Groundbreaking album to get a physical release or official merchandise. In 2017 a three-track EP was released criticizing YouTube culture at the time as well as expressing frustration with the state of Groundbreaking and its relation to fandom content, followed by Anarchy II, a prequel to 2016's Anarchy and the projects final full-length release for over four years. Late 2017, the final nerdcore song was released, 'Snake Eyes', written about indie platformer Cuphead. After two EPs in 2018 and a single in 2019, the project was put on hiatus in October of 2019, citing unsatisfying streams and insufficient income to support the project full-time, frustrations with changes YouTube made to artist pages, as well as a desire to pursue the recently-revived A Fight For Daylight. Ultimately, nothing materialized from the AFFD sessions, and Groundbreaking returned with two singles in 2020, a one-off alternative metal track titled Meltdown in June and Parade in October, which would go on to be the eponymous opening track to a full length album in 2021. In 2023, a number of pre-Parade releases were removed from streaming platforms, with 2018 EP BLOOD SWEAT TEARS reappearing under a new name, The Groundbreaking Project. In 2024, every album, single, and EP pre-Parade were removed from streaming and returned under the new name (with the exception of Woke, released as a one-off in 2022, which was removed from streaming services and never re-uploaded anywhere else). On the official Groundbreaking Twitter, a statement was issued declaring the 'old Groundbreaking dead', as well as promising Sean would not be compromising his vision for any reason. April of 2024, Sean directly addressed a fan-run Discord server stating the self-titled album planned for 2024, which would include the singles 'BLUE', 'FIRE OF OUR PAST', 'CYNICAL', 'CROWNS', and 'DEAD ENDS' - as well as 'Abyss' and 'Storm', two songs played at a concert - had been shelved, and the 'BLUE' single (which included the other four tracks for easier discovery on streaming platforms) was now reclassified as an EP comprising those songs. He further stated he was at work on a new album, but did not give details on it. Some releases credit Sean Harper as "Shaun", while his legal name is Sean he has stated he accepts any spelling variation, although the last time he used 'Shaun' was 2019's hiatus letter.