BATTERY レコード& CD

Review: With previous on Program and Spearhead, Battery now take another bold leap and make their Metalheadz debut. Three tracks deep, each one showcasing their stark, spacious sound. "NoNo" is a 150mph drive down country lanes blindfolded. No escape, no surrender, no seatbelt. "Air" is slightly deeper with more of a human element thanks to subtle vocal touches from Rumour. Finally we hit "Hornsey Dub", a heads down roller laced with dense drum textures, tight edits and sneering toxic sub. Killer label debut and definite radar-lockers for 2016 hype.

Review: Techstep pioneers Renegade are set to shut up shop next year, so make the most of these final releases... Four tracks heavy, this EP sums up every reason Renegade has developed such a strong reputation in the game: BTK & Cold Fusion show us how vocals can be done in a big way without sounding cheesy on "Not Your Idol" while Battery (Craggs and Parallel's new project) is a joy ride straight back to 1994 in a 2025-built car. Loxy & Resound switch up their dubbier motifs for something much harder and darker but still ultimately lean and sinewy and finally NC-17 closes the show with a firing slice of nasty. With a fine-tuned Reece that whistles like a wasp, this could have been dropped at any Renegade party over the last 15 years and would guarantee a rewind each and every time.

Review: Four of the 15 slabs of underground drum & bass massiveness on Program's debut compilation Encrypted, delivered on lush green vinyl: "Slaughter House" is straight-up nasty. You can hear Audio's influence on every jagged aspect of this bassline-focussed ripper. Bladerunner follows and he's kicking it old school with breezy minor key chords, gutsy vocals and rolling amens like it's 1994... Before the bassline kicks us straight in 2038. ChrisSU's "URAR" is a much more contemporary affair, opening with deep dream synthesis before charging bullishly into the dance with a bassline so volatile it's been declared a global emergency. Finally Battery adds to his previous on Renegade Hardware and Spearhead with a brutish roller that grizzles with raw menace throughout.