Boasting a roster of seasoned veterans like Virtual Riot, Barely Alive and Modestep, as well as hot trendsetters such as Oliverse and Eliminate, Disciple Records have quickly established themselves among the best bass labels. With a quality to quantity ratio that is second to none, their artists continue to push boundaries with each and every single, remix and album.
Six months ago, the label teamed up with esteemed streamer Jericho to deliver a gaming-inspired compilation featuring both new and old releases from Disciple’s talented artists. Soon after, they unveiled the fourth installment of their label compilation titled Alliance, which featured sixteen wicked originals from every one of their signees, not to mention an astounding mega-collaboration of 13 artists coming together on a single track. One would think that such an outpour of new music would have to slow down at some point, but Disciple and their heavier imprint Round Table have shown no signs of slowing down. Keeping the compilation theme alive, Disciple has now joined forces with popular YouTuber Mini Ladd to unleash fifteen more action-packed tracks from old and new label favorites.
While impossible to touch on every track, we thought we’d highlight a few of our favorites below!
Oliverse has been killing it for a few years now, but business has only started booming for the UK-based producer in the last year or so. An infectious remix for Tchami’s ‘After Life’ and Modestep’s ‘Higher’ put him on the map for many dubstep enthusiasts, and signing to Disciple earlier this year solidified his breakout year. In a riddim-saturated dubstep scene, Oliverse’s melodic approach to the genre is both nostalgic yet forward-thinking, offering heavy-hitting bass with no absence of musicality. Consistently blurring lines between music to dance to and music to headbang to, Oliverse’s contribution to the Mini Ladd compilation titled ‘Somethin Good’ is further proof that melodies do belong in dubstep, and that Oliverse is among the best at doing so. Powerful female vocals are backed by gritty synths and punchy percussion to drive home his signature sound. Keeping you entertained for a full four and a half minutes, ‘Something Good’ definitely lives up to its name.
Virtual Riot needs no introduction. With two EPs and countless singles and remixes under his belt this year alone, the German-born, LA-based producer is on another level when it comes to productivity and consistency of releases. Swaying between dubstep, future bass, and everything in between with ease, Virtual Riot is easily one of the best producers in the game. His 2017 Throwback EP brought us back to his complextro roots, and his contribution to the latest compilation does so once again. Flexing impeccable sound design, ‘How Do You Turn This On’ is one of those feel-good electro tracks that brings bass fans back to their roots. The project file for this track must be insanely CPU-heavy, with hundreds of meticulously arranged sounds making themselves heard throughout the insanely catchy song. ‘How Do You Turn This On’ is the perfect anthem for early dubstep lovers.
Two rising Disciple stars at the forefront of the experimental bass scene, Eliminate & PIERCE team up with vocalist PLTO for an unexpected clash of emotion and riveting production in ‘With Me’. An emotional vocal intro paints a delicate setting for the track, backed in full force by a commanding piano melody and taut percussion. As the cadence of the track hastens, a warped out vocal takes the tune into a darker direction, unearthing a siege of compact snare drums and precise synth jabs.
Regarded as one of the select few dubstep artists to have stood the test of time, Barely Alive pays a small homage to the predecessors of dubstep and the earlier, more emotional and less bass-ridden days. A delicate melody sets the stage, before a more synth-involved cadence of the track kicks into motion, demonstrating yet again the duo’s unmatched talent to blend raw emotion into their energetic buildups. A critical sample booms in the backdrop, expressing its disdain with lack of emphasis, unleashing the true identity of ‘You Suck’ and launching into a funky breakdown which contrasts low, grumbling bass hits and fiery synthesizer patterns.
Each experts in their respective crafts, PhaseOne has established dominance in combining aggressive drum patterns and exquisitely timed breaks in his tear-out style of dubstep, while YOOKiE concoct some of the most spine-tingling walls of subs that your body has ever experienced. A collaboration from the two would demand a setting of chaos, and thus fittingly titled ‘State of Emergency’ the tune packs an immeasurable capacity of bass, overwhelming surges of subs and daunting production accuracy.
Failing to miss a beat the entire year, Disciple is gaining momentum by the minute. With the initial patchwork compilation Jericho, the teamed expressed an interest in maintaining a firm foothold in the realm of dubstep and riddim, allowing each artist within the roster to formulate their own contribution to the project. The more recent joint effort with Mini Ladd affirms the previous inclination, while also unveiling an inherent desire to preserve the foundation of bass music, paying tribute to the earlier days of dubstep with more visible attention to harmony, melodies, and vocals. Needless to say, this entire compilation makes a resounding splash and is surely a tell-tale sign for what the future holds for Disciple and its constituents.
