Review: German OG Bassface Sascha returns to the sound he made the biggest noise in back in the mid 2000s; balls-out, riff-heavy jump up. With its savage metallic textures and nose-breaking energy, there's a wily ruthlessness buzzing and sizzling throughout. "Klonk", meanwhile, pays homage to the legacy of Clipz with its sweet, simple but seriously savage harmonic Q&A. No nonsense, plenty of drama; Bassface is gunning for the dance right here.
Review: Belgian heaviness from man like Tripper... Two tracks, two vibes: "Greedy" hits with a real mid 2000s bounce. Think Bristol, think Bingo Beats, think playful grooves that bounce and wriggle and work so well in almost any type of mix. "Darkest Void" takes us back to the heavier, gnarlier side of the Belgian veteran as we're pushed, pulled and turned inside out but pneumatic dancefloor dynamics that are kinda reminiscent of Culture Shock's "Bunker" but with more jump up slobbering. Gobble it up and get as greedy as you like....
Review: Quick quick call a doctor, Bou's been so busy rinsing the year out with some of the finest stinkers and rollers he's gone and caught himself a cheeky flu. Hotter than a set of twin ladies, "Fever" licks and tickles with a warm purring harmonic bass texture that's not dissimilar to a young Clipz and some wafting jazz pianos. "Only One" continues the rolling funk feels with a tubular bassline, subtle jazz samples and even more space around the elements. Rinse and repeat for a clean bill of health.
Review: Building on his Subway cameo on last month's "New Wave" EP with Silent Storm, Certified returns with an entire four track EP. File under: Absolute stinkers, each cut slaps and scraps with gully riff energy and twists along each tale. "The Dark" is all horror and groaning bass, "Begging For More" rips up a classic hardcore-style piano/vocal hook before belching out a bassline swampy enough to poison your own personal water supply while "Impress The Audience" takes the prize of the most subversive track on the pack with its tripped-out riff and swinging percussion. "Allow It" closes on an old school laser blazing shred up. Vibes.
Review: Landing on the imitable Subway Soundz once more is Complex, a producer with an ability to pack in raw, unadulterated rage into a set of dastardly arrangements and hellish soundscapes, while wrapping it all up in an urban-tinted, jump-up package. Subway Soundz know how to curate, basically. This release is one for the jump up heads who don't like things screechy and overdone, but instead murky and rough. Picture old school Sub Zero, basically. That's what Final Space is, with punishing bass stabs and a driving feel of intent and purpose. Foggy takes things in a more modern, KoTR direction but maintains that roughness - big single.
Review: Complex returns to clear up the debris from his explosive "Back It Up" release with Decoy at the start of the year. First comes a brand new jam; the deep menacing cyborg rolling funk of "Dark World" where a techier edge prevails along with some exceptional detuned synth cascades on the fills. Next up is a VIP of "Back It Up". The vocals are still pretty dubious but with a new twist on the bass and extra grotty funk, it's still a cracking VIP. Soundz as a pound mate.
Review: Complex is backing it up over on Subway Soundz with a tight sounding single. 'Back It Up' featuring Decoy on the mic has, admittedly, some slightly questionable lyrics but they definitely fit well with the spirit of the tune: a dark, moody stepper that doesn't care about rules and certainly doesn't care about feelings. The main bass on this tune oozes quality and packs some serious weight, reminiscent of the Souped Up crew. 'Impulse' is slightly less crazy and thereby lacks some of the sophistication but, nevertheless, packs a nice little punch and also smacks of Souped Up sounds. Tasty bits here.
Review: Subway Soundz, despite their name perhaps have connotations of footlong sandwiches, manage to put out some of the dirtiest beats in the game. Eazy is holding up that mantle with this single, a double-sided weapon with an urban-edge. 'Very Odd' is arguably the stronger of the two if only because it has such a satisfyingly solid drum line underpinning it, punching basses inject the urban edge mentioned above and then the drop finished it all off - absolutely sick tune. 'Fire' is more along Souped Up lines with its catchy melody and simple arrangement - one of the serum fans.
Review: The title says it all: "Hard Bop" is as succinct as it sounds. A "Warhead" style Q&A with a very lean rhythm and subs complexion, a whole universe of funk can be found in the devilishly simple groove. "Sight N Soundz" adopts a similar minimal MO with a very precise, classical late 90s style bass riff that just nags and nags until you submit. Both cuts laced with detailed drum work that never sits still, Ego Trippin is, once again, bang on the dollar with these.
Review: Subway Soundz manage to put out some of the sickest beats in the game and they're always rock-solid bits of serious weaponry. Filthy Habbits is holding up that mantle with this four-tracker, an extended play with an urban-edge. 'Unlimited Power' is arguably the stronger of the bunch if only because it has such a satisfyingly solid drum line underpinning it, punching basses inject the urban edge mentioned above and then the drop finished it all off - absolutely sick tune. 'Ghosts' is more along Souped Up lines with its catchy melody and simple arrangement - one of the serum fans.
Review: Putting the vibes in to V/A: Logan D curates a brand new various artist EP with heavyweight results: Heist and Logan himself ignite the turbo engine with the low-swung roll-out "Do It" while Cabin Fever & Info lay down a much sterner sermon with "Wake Up". Deeper again we hit mysterious newcomer Drop Off with a powerful riff-primed cut that's reminiscent of a young Tyke while veterans Ego Trippin' return with a beautifully bouncy Bingo style workout "Barely Breathing". All quarter covered and plenty more.
Review: As far as active legendary producers go within the Grime scene, there aren't many with the same high level of consistency as Silencer. Fresh off the back of his super popular 'Butcher' EP, he teams up with the electric energy of Maxsta on 'Black Mask'. Silencer goes to work to provide a dark and thunderous instrumental backing for Maxsta to run riot over with his skippy vocal patterns and uniquely creative grasp of multisyllabic patterns whilst describing some of the dark events of his past and present. It's dark, weighty and an instant must for grime DJ's nationwide.
Review: Shady power moves from Kanine: Having already taken us "Into The Dark" on Twisted Beatz earlier this year, now he's trapping us in "The Shadows" and there's no way possible way to escape. Not that you'd want to escape, mind; with its orchestrated samples and drop into a dual-textured bassline that both groans and purrs, "The Shadows" has some of the best views of the dancefloor you'll ever get. "Invincible" holds us hostage even more with more of a classic brittle Belgian-sounding roughness to its grotty Q&A riff. Both kill it in two exceptional ways... You gonna bark all day little doggy?
Review: Barking mad beats from the Kanine kennel, this time on Subway Soundz: "Invincible" bites and growls with a razor sharp step and a range of weirdo bass textures all vying for your attention in a well juggled scattered riff style. Slipz joins the fray for the second sesh of the set "Keyboard Warrior". Venomous, brittle and charmed with cheeky amen rolls on the fills, it's so heavy and rasping with dark alien funk you kinda of want to find the keyboard slapping trolls who inspired this track and shake them by the hand for making it happen (then kick them somewhere sensitive) Soundz as a pound.
Review: Subway Soundz is one of our favourite labels and the evidence is in how often we feature them here. Krucial's forthcoming single on the label exemplifies exactly why that's the case and he's pulled out the stops here in style, cutting up the place with two fiery slices of on-brand dancefloor pressure. A-Side 'Rasta' is our preferred of the two, with a long, drawn-out bassline that's reminiscent of the foghorns we know so well but changed up nicely, a powerful symbol of intent from the producer. Big sounds here.
Review: Subway Soundz, despite their name perhaps have connotations of footlong sandwiches, manage to put out some of the dirtiest beats in the game. Masker is holding up that mantle with this single, a double-sided weapon with an urban-edge. 'Reflections' featuring Kash is arguably the stronger of the two if only because it has such a satisfyingly solid drum line underpinning it, Kash's menacing vocals inject the urban edge mentioned above and then the drop finished it all off - absolutely sick tune. 'Call Their Bluff' is more along Souped Up lines with its catchy melody and simple arrangement - one of the serum fans.
Review: Get the saws out... Metal Work is back! This time he's flexing on Subway Soundz, packing two gritty jump-up steppers; "Life Forms" is all about the bitter, toxic, grain riff that scales up on every entrance while "That Feeling" gets a little funkier with a slightly off-grid bassline that suddenly flips up the frequency spectrum when you least expect it. Get to work.
Certified & Silent Storm - "All Be Free" - (5:12) 175 BPM
Masker - "Dirty Business" - (4:26) 175 BPM
Review: Subway Soundz have get busy on the recruitment flex with five certified bangers from a whole cast of badmen. Higher Stakes bosser Pacso links up with Term for the grizzly opening salvo before Ego Trippin throw a few extra notes into the already infectious bassline riff on the Methodical "Barely Breathing". Elsewhere Coda tans our hides with a high harmonic Clipz-style bassline Certified & Silent Storm dust off the divas while Masker provides the final knock out with the super-bounce roller "Dirty Business". Time to get mucky.
Review: Premium by name, premium by nature; the young UK artist currently based in Belgium makes his debut on Subway Soundz with this high impact weapon that taps back into the classic sing-along riff days before the noises went full gutter. Energetic, addictive and cuts through in the mix with such precision it blows wigs off in a 20 mile radius, this is a massive tune that guarantees chaos. Exert yourself!
Review: Profile has taken a rather original approach to this jump-up two-tracker, with both tunes rolling out the introductions before flipping into their dancefloor iterations. 'Killing Spree' is our favourite of the two, with a banging set of samples and punchy drums leading you in on the build and laying the groundwork for what turns into a stabby rendition of dancefloor destruction. 'Invasion' is a big more raucous but still carries some funk nonetheless, this time that infectiousness being transposed onto an even darker context. The album art is the final nice touch to what is an incredibly slick release. Well played boys!
Review: Every now and then, you just want a release that slams start to finish. No frills, no pretence of trying to be something that it isn't, just solidly banging D&B that gets your head nodding and your feet moving. Skore has done that here and this single is a run of attitude-packed jump up, all of which would sound fat through a sound system. 'Haunted' is a highlight, moody samples leading you in into a fluttering array of jagged sonics and boom-bap drum hits, a vibe that's quickly transferred across into 'Execute' - snapping percussive hits, moody bass notes and melody that oozes power.
Review: BassLayerz' Slipz returns to Subway Soundz for the first time in over 18 months with four crystal riff slappers. "Get Down" flips a well known 90s house sample and brings it kicking and screaming into D&B territory, "Higher" bounces with a delectable swing that's almost Zinc-like in its warmth and weight while "Double Ya Money" wriggles and teases with a trippy reverse 8-bit riff and an array of asteroid blasting bleeps. Finally Slipz ends on a sincere note with "Not Laughing". Warped, strange and stripped back, it's tailor made for MCs to go HAM on. Where the bacon at?
Review: Nottingham rudeboy Slipz slides into Subway HQ with four stark, steppy bassline grunters that will melt any floor this side of 2020. Kanine jumps on board for the opening shots on "Keyboard Warrior" - all metallic and rasping with venom. Elsewhere "Check This Out" rattles with a harmonic riff reminiscent of a young TC and rattling snare-heavy beats, "Massacre" creates a blood bath with its Hazard-style thick-n-fast ravaged riff while "Ha!" has the last laugh with some heady Generation Dub style grunty riffage. Don't lay off this one.
Review: Every now and then, you just want a release that slams start to finish. No frills, no pretence of trying to be something that it isn't, just solidly banging D&B that gets your head nodding and your feet moving. Slipz has done that here and this single is a run of attitude-packed jump up, all of which would sound fat through a sound system. 'Hurt' is a highlight, bright light synths and god vibes leading you in into a fluttering array of bouncy sonics and boom-bap drum hits, a vibe that's quickly transferred across into 'Too Quiet' - snapping percussive hits, moody bass notes and melody that oozes power.
Review: Nottingham meets Manchester on this bouncy-bottomed banger doublet from Slipz and man-of-the-moment Bou. Fresh from the Souped Up school of thought, with heavy tendrils of early 2000s Zinc, it's all about the big rubber ball bass riffs Q-ing and A-ing with toxic infectiousness. "Everything Good" is real heads-down floor sweeper with minimal elements while "Can't See This" wobbles with a touch more skank factor. It's all good.
Review: Slipz and Tesen have taken a rather original approach to this jump-up two-tracker, with both tunes having liquid introductions before flipping into their dancefloor iterations. 'Funk Baby' is our favourite of the two, with a gorgeous set of funky samples leading you in on the build and laying the groundwork for what turns into a stabby, punchy rendition of dancefloor destruction. 'Okay' is a big more raucous but still carries some funk nonetheless, this time that infectiousness being transposed onto an even darker context. The album art is the final nice touch to what is an incredibly slick release. Well played boys!
Review: Sota is unleashing an onslaught over on Subway Soundz with a tight sounding single. 'Onslaught' is a dark, moody stepper that doesn't care about rules and certainly doesn't care about feelings. The main bass on this tune oozes quality and packs some serious weight, reminiscent of the Souped Up crew. 'Sledgehammer' is slightly less crazy but it definitely is still on the crazy end, as gargled bass notes inject a whole load of force into the arrangement. Tasty bits here.
Review: Usually spotted on Samurai Bass, Stafford's Subsonic jumps aboard the good ship Subway Soundz with four disgusting battle tracks. All of which pack serious infectious bass riffs: "Shaolin" is all about the 97 style wobble, "Crunchy Nut" is a cross between a swarm of killer bees and a grumpy young Clipz, "Destroy" makes you feel like you're stuck in a metal tube while kids are kicking footballs really hard at the walls outside (in the nicest possible way) while "Bingo" goes for an early 2000s BBK style drama jam. Full house!
