Nearly a decade of rigid self-discipline and a tireless work ethic have allowed Orange County local, Blankface to prevail within the chaotic arena of bass music since the start of 2010. An early career as a DJ furnished an opportunity for the promising young talent to hone in on his live production skills from the earliest infancy of his career, creating stunning contrast between the boundless energy he brings to the stage and the meticulous craft he’s nurtured within the studio.
Now the founder of his own imprint label Savage Society Records, Blankface has leveraged his diverse skill set as both producer and performer mentoring the upcoming wave of talent and providing a platform for up & coming bass producers to release their music. In doing so, he remains rigidly in-tune with current trends, allowing him to blend the years of experience in his own style and deviations of modern tastes for a sensational variety and complexity in his catalog of releases.
Despite his namesake, Blankface is no stranger to Black Label imprint. The California-native first showcased the gripping dexterity of his hybrid-riddim style with the releases of ‘Shockwave’ and the subsequent ‘VIP’ via Never Say Die Records nearly 2 years ago.
Returning in noble fashion, the Quality Control EP presents an opportunity for Blankface to take the stage for the extended performance he so deserves. Composed of two solo exhibitions as well as ripe collaborative efforts with Decimate & Dabow, the latest project further highlights the nearly infinite sonic capacity he possesses.
A grainy vocal broadcast presents a ghostly introduction to ‘Quality Control’. Crisp, rhythmic tapping of a hi-hat disguise a tantalizing melody, which creeps over the track like a cool fog. As the vocals begin to blur into a piercing riser, a gritty vocal sample recoils the melody, this time in full tilt. An assortment of metallic clicking and whirring digital samples conceal the inherent shift in energy as a daunting pause and mighty drum hit hurl the track into an unfaltering cascade of exhilarating wobbles.
Picking up where track one left off, Blankface and Decimate explain why they are a force that shouldn’t be tried. The vicious attack of ‘Don’t Try Me’ boasts the Savage Society Records lifestyle by creating an aggressive energy which will compel you to potentially break a few things. “Bottles breaking, heads are banging, ” is the theme, as you’re in search of the next rail to unleash chaos on. This is exactly what is accomplished in this track with the gritty and inhuman synth lines. The wet metal distortion sound of drop two ensures mayhem on the dance floor. If you hear this track played out at a future event, you may want to clear space for the assured mosh pit.
A spine-shivering siren roars in the foreground, accompanied by a mesmerizing pattern of snares as ‘Played Out’ begins to take shape. Nearly masked entirely by the blaring warning signal, a wonky ambush hums incessantly in the backdrop. As the energy of the track builds to a nearly unbearable degree, a poignant vocal sample gives rise to a full-fledged assault of grungy wobbles, which seem to seep into every nook and cranny of your brain.
‘Rock n Yoi’ takes two of the most underrated producers to create a never before heard experience. Introducing Dabow to the Never Say Die Black Label releases, he shows off the elusiveness to his creativity. While not a stranger to the dubstep sound because of his alias wobad, he curates a new listening participation with Blankface. Dabow is able to represent his trap etiquette in a brand new way with his feature on ‘Rock n Yoi’. Being a personal favorite off the EP, Blankface and Dabow mold a new era in which riddim and trap are capable of colliding in epic proportion. Coming correct with the industrial pattern of trap horns, the sounds of Dabow are laid cleanly over the brutal bass of Blankface. The overbearing “yoi” sound cuts through the bass enough to let you breathe just before coming back with an even stronger emphasis on the drop. ‘Rock n Yoi’ is bound to end up on repeat and make you reconsider whether or not to keep your spinal cord attached from the intrusive headbanging that is bound to occur.
Quality Control shows a new level of efficiency from Blankface as it demonstrates the magnitude of precision he is capable of. Being an established heavy hitter of the riddim scene, this EP falls nothing short of the name presented, “quality”. It is inevitable that you will become more familiar with the name Blankface after the number of times you will find yourself playing out these stout tunes.
Words by Tony Leonard & A. Samuel Lewis
