Review: A little-known fact about Crissy Criss is that he's jungle legend Kenny Ken's stepson, which is an interesting titbit, especially considering how different Criss' debut album - War On Silence - is from his stepdad's stylistic direction. The LP is very much aimed at the dancefloor, it's full of huge synths and basses, as well as jump-up influence in the form of Upgrade. 'Rumble' featuring Heist is the perfect exemplification and the jump-up influence is apparent here as well, the tune's distorted energy and immense force reminiscent of Heist's own productions. A top LP from a top producer.
Review: From the onset Modestep make their intentions know with a sample of an expletive Bricktop cussing over the top of roaring dubstep bassline and classical, orchestral movements in "Damien". Teddy Killerz adds some stadium rock to the album on "Make You Mine", while "Machines" is a roaring slice grungy electro. By their standards, things are more minimal in "On Our Own" - a track which brings to mind older Pendulum - and "Feel Alive" is the best amalgamation on disparate music styles we've heard. Tackle the rest at your own peril.
Review: Holy sidechain, Batman. When "Demolisher", the first track on this two-parter drops, you'll certainly know about it. Teddy Killerz have been killing it on Bad Taste and ProgRAM for a couple of years now, but here they are ripping Subtitles a new one with this storming, stressful, dancefloor-destroying release. On the flip is Gridlok's take on "Demolisher" and while he retains the hugely towering feel of the original, his own stamp is made from razorwire and bits of Teddy K stuffing.
Review: Hello! Currently smashing the jacksy out of the drum & bass scene with releases on on Bad Taste, the Russian duo prove, once again, that a stupid name doesn't mean stupid music. In fact these are so good, they fizz with the textbook tear-out breakbeat mischief Hardcore Beats first became renowned for. "The Exorcist" is the true buzz-cut. Sprung with a classic drum roll, the bass mutters all sorts of sonic swearwords into your sweet innocent ears as an eerie topline weaves a psy-like web above you. "Busted" is more your chubby bass-blusterer while "Dysfunction" takes a drive down 4/4 electro-tech drive. Naughty.
Review: Everyone's favourite stuffed animals are back on Eatbrain with an unsurprisingly fiery EP. Teddy Killerz just pack a certain type of craziness into their music that lends itself superbly to Budapest-based Eatbrain, their tendency for super-charged basslines and raucous percussive force fitting in well with the Central European neurofunk powerhouse. Chopping Machines fits a diverse range of dancefloor sounds into five tracks; 'Chop It' features an astoundingly solid back end; 'Chopping Machines' carries a dystopic prescence with its gargling synths; and 'Afrika' delves into deeper territory with a roving sense of travel. Another top EP from the boys.
Review: Teddy Killerz are the cute, furry-faced bastions of horror and they've teamed up with the Eatbrain crew for this full-throttle display of dastardly sound design, monstrous bass construction and downright disgusting choonage. 'Vibe' is our favourite of the two, with a drum line that's constantly shifting and morphing across different patterns and punchy synth stabs, it's sharp on all edges and fiercely no-nonsense. The rest of the tines pack even more energy and it's what we've come to expect from all parties involved in this sick little single.
Review: Ahead of their highly anticipated album Nightmare Street, menacing Russian genre-melters Teddy Killerz throw a left hook with this savage one tracker: classic neuro rolls, multi-layered bass textures, orchestral stabs, a dynamic second drop and a killer sample comprise to ensure this goes down strictly at peaktime and power hours. Absolute filth.
Review: Massive new label launch! The phenomenal Russian Neuropunk podcast (which regularly clocks up over a milli views per show) has elevated into label mode with Teddy Killerz' Garud and Gydra's Bes at the helm. This massive three tracker launches this significant moment in Russian drum & bass with one collaboration and two solo workouts; the Gydra/Teddy Killerz collab "Miles High" takes the lead with its screaming turbine energy and rocket blasting riffs, it's followed by a heads down roller from the furry fire handlers before Gydra close the set with the subverted rave hammer "No Kidding" where a punctuated bassline does some serious pounding before a dreamy breakdown unfolds... Just like the bright future of this label. Go ahead Neuropunks, make our day!
Review: A new name has recently emerged on the ever-reliable Bad Taste Recordings and it is that of the Teddy Killerz. Comin atcha with a unique and aggressive sound that blends tech-y industrial D&B and dubstep together, this next release from them as they team up with NPhonix is just as awesome as ever. First up is title track "Scary" which, true to its name, is frightening from the off with its eerie, creeped out intro, bludgeoning beats and stabbing bass coupled with grinding mid range wobble. "Earth Shaker" is another one which does what it says on the tin with notable aplomb. A sparse intro lulls us into a false sense of security before the aggressive, warping beats kick in and the tune drops with a tumultuous wobble of bass into a thunderous dancefloor destroyer.
Review: From seminal YouTube damage to worldwide events and all sorts more, UKF continues to spin its own distinctive low-end yarn. Having made its presence known beyond the dubstep and drum & bass worlds in the last year or so, Bass Culture 3 acts as a pivotal release and shows the channel is far from genre-specific. Amidst the massive bangers that the brand is known for - TC - "Get Down Low", Must Die & Mantis - "Culture", Mob Tactics - "The Answer" - there are plenty of other corners explored, too. From the 808 allure of Buku's "No One Does" to the angular jacking of Three Bar's "Everybody" via My Nu Leng's unavoidable "Masterplan", this album represents some of the most exciting examples of bass behaviour in all styles of electronic music.
