Tag Archives: Metalheadz

Nucleus & Paradox – Blade 9 / Break North [Metalheadz]

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When it comes to chopping up the breaks, it’s harder to find a duo more dedicated and skilled than Nucleus & Paradox. Their latest outing sees them landing on Metalheadz with two crisp, dark and dangerous slices of old school tinged D&B which carry that unmistakable ‘headz vibe.

Blade 9 is definitely the more upfront of the two tracks, with a relentlessly rolling break pared with big, dirty sub stabs for maximum impact. Over on the flip Break North goes in darker, leaving more space between the beats but slamming down kicks, snares and sub with a dangerous level of menace. This one will shake you in your chest cavity on a proper rig!

Hit up the Metalheadz store to grab this one vinyl including a limited edition A2 print. Noice!

Jubei – True Form EP [Metalheadz]

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Jubei returns to Metalheadz. What else do you need to know? All joking aside, fans of the man’s work should know what to expect by now – crisp, rolling techstep with tons of low end weight and an old school ‘headz vibe. It’s all about Cold Corner and Out of Sight on this release for us.

Check out the clips below and pick your own favourite; the EP is available at the Metalheadz store right now.

Classic Track: Goldie – Timeless

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Few producers would have the audacity to call a track Timeless. I’m sure at the time many saw Goldie’s vision as naive, even arrogant, but Timeless has proved to be exactly that; 20 years on from its original release the 20 minute opus is just as breathtaking as it has ever been. Drum & Bass at it’s most epic and cleverly arranged, and still punchy and beautiful despite the obviously 90s production style.

If you’re not already a firm fan of the album this heads up you should be able to find a copy on CD easily enough; better still you can see Goldie performing it live with the Heritage Orchestra in London this July. Between now and then sit back and soak in arguably the best track from one of the genre’s true innovators.

Fracture x Chimpo – From Early / Hard Food [Metalheadz]

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Leftfield D&B innovators Fracture & Chimpo land on the mighty ‘headz imprint with a fresh new 12″ showcasing their unusual take on the 170 sound. From Early taps into the swaggering half-time sound with more than a hint of LA bass, but for us at the Dojo it’s all about the old school stylings and fantastic drum work of Hard Food. Check out the clips below and head to the Metalheadz store to pre-order a copy now, with full release due from March 16th.

Classic Track: Data – Compassion

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The recent release of an old Data track via Terabyte reminded me of some of the gems from his back catalogue, before his shift away from D&B and towards slower tempos via his Nick Modern alias. One of the best from the archives saw release on Metalheadz via the Genesis EP Pt 2; blending a haunting melody and vocal line with Nick’s talent for minimal drums, Compassion remains one of my favourite slices of deep, melancholy D&B. Check it out below and head to Juno to grab a copy.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nY-JmK96TM]

Classic Track: Dillinja – Deep Deadly Subs (Remix)

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It’s always nice to hear a classic getting a fresh lick of mastering paint, and that’s exactly what ‘headz have done for the second Razors Edge release. Dillinja’s Deep Deadly Subs (Remix) sounds just as fresh today as it did back in ’96, with crunchy breaks and that unmistakeable Dillinja bass layered under creepy atmospherics and a general layer of menace. You can grab the remaster exclusively at the ‘headz store for the next month alongside Peshay’s VIP of Goldie’s Jah, so go and grab yourself a slice of D&B history!

 

Beta 2 & Zero T – Election [Metalheadz]

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The latest on ‘headz comes courtesy of Beta 2 & Zero T who serve up three crisp, grooving tracks for the Platinum imprint. Election provides a straight up slice of dancefloor tech with crisp breaks and a catchy bass riff, while The Edge strips things back for a tight stepper with an infectious melodic arpeggio and more grimey bassline business. Last but not least, What’s Wrong drops the tempo to 140 for a cheeky dubstep outing with tons of atmosphere. Check out the clips below and grab yourself a copy on vinyl or digital from the Metalheadz store now!

Mikal – Where They At [Metalheadz]

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Mikal’s latest EP for the mighty Metalheadz sees the producer taking a slightly different direction compared to some of the more straightforward techstep we’ve heard from him in the past. Where They At explores tight, percussive minimalism over deep, throbbing sub, while Nymfo collab The Chosen swaps the ever shifting beats for a steadier groove which once again holds back from the aggressive stance both producers are sometimes known for.

Last but not least, Control of the People sees Mikal teaming up with RIOT (the DJ from Portugese Kuduro/Breaks outfit Buraka Som Sistema) for an odd but very enjoyable fusion of tech D&B and the samba-esque sound Buraka have been plying for some years. Swung beats and a hint of funk sit well with growling basslines and tight snares, and the whole composition sounds very fresh. Check out the clips below and hit up the ‘headz store to preorder the EP now ahead of it’s Jan 19th release.

Best Albums of 2014

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2014 has been a great year for D&B and another great year for LPs, so with the year drawing to a close we thought we’d run down our favourite full length releases this year. In no particular order…

Kimyan Law – Coeur Calme [Blu Mar Ten Music]

Kimyan’s debut LP impressed us greatly upon it’s initial release, and it’s an album that has only improved upon repeated listens. Blending influences from D&B with elements of soul, world music, ambient and plenty more besides, this is one of the most musical releases this year and a great start to what should be a promising career.

Tokyo Prose – Presence [Samurai Music]

Samurai’s reputation for quality and depth is legendary, and the debut LP from kiwi producer Tokyo Prose fits that MO perfectly. Featuring some excellent collaborations with the likes of Synkro, LSB and Lenzman, the album features a coherence and flow that many LPs lack, and some of the finest deep liquid tracks of the year. Essential listening.

Cern – Under Another Sky [Dispatch Recordings]

Cern’s LP slipped under the radar here at the Dojo on initial release, but thankfully we got the chance to catch up with it over the holiday season. The level of atmosphere and depth on show here is stunning, not to mention the precise engineering, intricate drum programming and overall detail that Cern has brought to the table. The album is an unapologetically dark, experimental release, with few (if any) of the tracks aimed at the dancefloor, and is all the better for it.

Future Beats: The Album [31 Recordings]

31 Recordings late entry to the 2014 LP battle has garnered near universal acclaim, and with good reason; few other compilations bring such a breadth of styles at such a high quality across such a massive selection of tracks. It’s great to see the label supporting new producers alongside old hands like Calibre and Klute, not to mention pushing the envelope with truly innovative sounds.

Ulterior Motive – The Fourth Wall [Metalheadz]

Last but by no means least, Ulterior Motive’s sonic journey through their experiences of Drum & Bass has provided both dancefloor anthems and deeper vibes. Tracks like Tape Pack and INTA-National have been killing floors at raves across the world since the LPs release, and the duos range has never been stronger.