New releases last eight weeks: Dirty Dubstep/Trap/Grime

Review: Albion Collective's new dance-focused sublabel, Gold, launches with a fierce three-track EP from debut artist Adel Force. Though new as Adel Force, the Estonian producer is no stranger to the scene, having spent 15 years crafting essential cuts as Bisweed. The 'Twirl' EP is a smart evolution in which he impresses by delivering experimental yet dancefloor-ready dubstep. The opening track, 'Is This What You Want,' perfectly captures Gold's mission to ignite crowds with bold rhythms and killer bass, and that only continues through the rest of the Ep, which comes with unique gold-embossed artwork to reflect Albion Collective's DIY ethos and commitment to originality.

Review: FoxBam Inc returns with its fourth EP featuring a powerful mix of floor-shaking productions. The release includes contributions from Gez Varley, best known for his work with LFO and classic tracks like 'Quo Vardis' alongside Italian acid producer Vikkei and label founders Foxtrot and Egebamyasi. This new one opens with the acid-heavy 'Battle Scars' while Vikkei delivers the hard techno 'Hip 'n' Crack.' Egebamyasi explores bass-driven wobbly dubstep with 'Mandubchester' and Varley's 'Saturn One' brings cinematic vibes to his signature techno style. Launched in 2023, FoxBam Inc is already becoming a key player in the underground.

Review: Following 'Happy Lovers' just over six months ago, Leo Gibbon returns with another inspiring collection. While the last EP flung its arms wide open to embrace the worlds of house, garage and soulful categories in between, this time we find him zoning in on the 140 grime vibe as he links with Trim for two exceptional messages. 'Orbit Step' is a woozy spacious stepper that gives plenty of space for Trim to flow out some ridiculously smart 16s. 'Danny & Darren' carries much more of a harder edge as Trim gets guttural and unleashes his inner yardman wisdom. Complete with instrumentals and acapellas, Leo and Trim have delivered something really special and super versatile right here.

Review: London dubstep producers Hijinx (Kyle Smith) and De-Tu (the trio of C-Side, Christopher Iona and Jevon Ives) team up in an enviably collaborative form, reserving five 12" grooves spread evenly and fairly over two originals each, not to mention these serving to top-cherry one more collaborative number, '3310', which leads the charge on this White Peach juicer. The mood on the record is dynamic and midrange scoopy as ever, with a no-more-no-less production approach squeezing just the right sense of scape from the mix, never saturating its sounds in wetness.

Review: Serbian crew Traka have been doing absolute bits on Yuku over recent years. Flexing between beats, experimental bass, grime and occasional excursions into drum & bass, the collective have a sound that defies tempo and template. Here they make their debut on FKOF and 'So' is the standout cut thanks to some absolutely savage bars from Rider Shafique. The energy is kept up top from the off; 'Shock Em Up' is an industrial funk-up, 'Shake Junt' melts with a warped Mo Wax feel while 'Silus' closes with a twisted hybrid of grunge and crunk. Stash it, bag it.

Review: Boy Better Know founder, vegan grime MC and one third of the Adenuga family legacy alongside Skepta and radio presenter Julie, JME has always floated above grime and bass music airspaces as an incontestable voice. Integrity first arrived through BBK as a fully self-produced banger set in 2015, corralling heavyweight collaborators Wiley, Giggs, Skepta, and D Double E to hammer home a certain message: simply put: don't mess. Wavering between dreamy and tearout instrumentals almost always orbiting 140bpm, and circulated between then "in" producers Joker, Deeco, and of course the inimitable Swifta, JME's subject matter always matches the vibe, be that as it may, boxing the opposition with car key fobs, or treating producers like prostitutes, giving them P for a beat. A certain nostalgia will wash over 10s grime listeners, as this limited edition clear vinyl reissue reinvokes the mouthy verbiage of one of grime's toppest guns.