Collectively, the bass music scene has experienced a tremendous amount of growth and development over the course of the 2018 calendar year. With the dubstep sub-genre riddim sharing a portion of the spotlight, the desire for monstrous bass, precise cuts and an engulfing environment of resonating frequencies seems to be soaring higher than ever before; similar to the original explosion of excitement when infamous producers such as Rusko, Caspa, Skrillex, Flux Pavillion, and Excision first stoked the flames of dubstep in the mid-2000s.
Much like a growing seed, a genre demands fertile, nurturing soil and a deep running system of support roots in order to blossom into maturity and survive the competitive landscape of the music scene. Founded in early 2009, Never Say Die Records and founder SKisM have furnished the necessary foundation that has allowed the bass genre to grow to where it is today, not to mention expanding into new & exciting sub-genres.
Toting an arsenal of veteran names such as Zomboy, MUST DIE!, Eptic & Trampa, the label has more than solidified their dominance over the bass realm; releasing consecutive Never Say Die compilations every year since 2012, each further revealing the seasoned cast of artists that have contributed their influence to the dubstep we know and love today.
Despite an extensive back catalog, SKisM maintains a rigid focus on the present moment and watchful gaze on future endeavors; demanding that past artists and newly acquired talents ceaselessly test the boundaries of their creative ability, which has resulted in a versatile evolution of sound for the label since its origination in 2009.
Now, with the sixth installment of the coveted Never Say Die Records compilation, we are enamored to see debut contributions from Mastadon, ECRAZE, and TYNAN as well as heavy-hitting sounds from seasoned veterans and Soltan’s first release of the year. And, as with all predecessors, there is not a single weak link in sight, providing sound confirmation that NSD will only continue to rule in 2019.
Every established artist has a signature sound that makes them easily distinguishable among others, but perhaps the most unique of them all is Eptic. Within five seconds of any of his tracks, a true fan is able to identify him in any mix. His contribution to Vol. 6 is no exception, jumping on the riddim bandwagon with his distinctive flair to unleash the monster that is ‘Ready 2 Die’. In typical Belgian overlord fashion, Eptic combines snappy vocal samples with his robotic synths and gut-wrenching bass to create one of the most forward-thinking riddim tracks of the year. Captivating your attention with an intricate introduction and keeping it with his forward-thinking approach is what Eptic does best, and ‘Ready 2 Die’ will have you hooked for its entirety.
While 2017 saw IVORY make a name for himself in the bass scene, this year saw him establish himself as one of the greats. His Next Level EP lives up to its name, offering next level sound design and supernatural bass. It’s no surprise that his contribution to Vol. 6, ‘Unbreakable’, stands out among the best, as he continues to elevate his wicked engineering with every release. In his latest, IVORY introduces middle-eastern chants with a desert-like soundscape to create a dance-ready torrent. Don’t be fooled by the splendor, though, as the gap between beauty and bass is quickly met with a loud, cawing lead matched with heavy-hitting percussion to create a headbang-ready heater.
Who knows exactly what prompted Space Laces to become the Santa Claus of bass this year, but whoever/whatever triggered it deserves all the thanks in the world. Gifting his die-hard fans with more releases this year than the last 5 years combined, Space Laces has been on an absolute tear with his latest work. When his collaboration with Topi wasn’t included in the Vaultage 001 mix, speculation began as to whether it would ever see the light of day, before being included in the Vol. 6 mix and giving bass enthusiasts a new hope. To the pleasure of all, ‘Whiplash’ has made its way into the newest compilation, offering more insight into the mind of two musical geniuses. A picturesque introduction depicts a group of friends cruising down a highway (no pun intended) before a hasty rise in tension predicts an unfortunate event. An abrupt crash of monstrous sounds injures all, with meticulous sound design and a fury of bass causing additional damage. Elevating the glitchy take on dubstep throughout, the track continues to jerk the passengers, offering no escape from the ‘Whiplash’.
Thoroughly listening to a track from international bass aficionado SPAG HEDDY is nostalgic to strolling the streets of Little Italy. Whimsical accordion medleys blend an unmistakable influence of the Sicilian variety into the savory, high-energy buildup of the track which contrasts roaring synth jabs and a commanding vocal sample. As the frenzy grows in intensity, a squealing mixdown launches the track into rampant waves of unyielding bass. Despite an overwhelming extravagance of resonating frequencies, ‘Troupe’ flows coherently as a tribute to SPAG’s coveted tight percussion and expertise in sound design.
Utilizing heartfelt synth melodies and mesmerizing bass sequences, KRIMER constructs an immeasurable amount of emotional depth and suspense in the buildup of ‘Facebreaker’. As the riser reaches its climax, an assault of rigorous drums steers the track in a new direction, unleashing a meaty vocal sample which catapults the track into a volcano of erupting bass. Just as the billowing smoke begins to clear, a sample from Dr. Dre’s ‘Nuthin But a G Thang’ comes straight out of left field, heaving you right back into the licking flames of the inferno.
A warm welcome and congratulations to TYNAN for making his debut on this year’s Never Say Die compilation — it’s been a real treat watching his style grow and develop in the previous 4 years and he truly deserves all the respect in the world for his hard work and talent!
The tune begins like the rebooting of a spaceship, captained by an otherworldly beast, which mutters a fierce growl as a repetitive snare drum kicks the vessel into orbit. As the ship begins to reach peak altitude a fatal software malfunction causes the navigation system to sputter uncontrollably, rerouting course directly into an oncoming fleet of bass-clad asteroids. Although the pilot appears to be coherent, he cackles menacingly as a meteor narrowly scathes the right wing, almost as if he had planned this treachery all along. Despite a more foundational trap style, ‘Usurper’ is sheathed in bass and lacks not an ounce in production.
Christopher Columbus of dubstep, Zomboy is an undisputed pioneer of sound design within the bass realm, with a foundation in production, laid nearly 10 years ago, his riveting style of thundering percussion breakdowns and relentless synth arrangements furnish a template for dubstep tracks still to this date. However, it is an insatiable hunger for progress which sets Zomboy apart from the masses, unveiling with each release an unbridled desire to expand his timeless infrastructure even further.
Flaunting his production expertise right out of the gate, ‘Hide N’ Seek’ opens with a complex digital introduction, coaxing you within earshot of the sensational trademark melody of wailing, harmonious synths. An exceptionally placed break leads seamlessly into an onslaught of drums, unleashing a captivating wave of rapid synths, which build teeming anticipation in the track. A vocal sample delivers the fatal blow, exposing a breach in the walls through which an assault of bass lays siege, demanding immediate surrender with no promise of survival.
Year after year, the growing anticipation is almost too much to bear — beckoning the question, how can the sheer volume and audacity of the previous year possibly be topped? However, expectation and reality flow in perfect synchronicity with Never Say Die; and Volume 6 carries with it an insurmountable quantity of bass, delicately crafted sound design & meticulous production worthy of all praise.
Word by Steph Contant & Sam Lewis.
