Fittingly regarded as ‘Mr. Teeth N’ Bones,’ dubstep newcomer Calcium has left a wake of chaos and destruction as he swiftly develops into one of the most promising styles within the realm of dubstep. The massive To The Bone EP released via Bassweight Records provided the initial impetus to kick the wheels in motion last spring, as tracks like ‘F.W.Y.S.’ and ‘Damn Son’ have made rounds decimating crowds in the festival circuit, only furthering the anticipation and excitement behind Calcium’s requisition for bass eccentricity.
Further pursuing his bass odyssey, Calcium returns to Never Say Die: Black Label with the Skull Vault EP, following up on his massive single ‘Mega Punch’ released earlier this year on the imprint. With a sound that becomes more recognizable with every release, the calcareous heavy-hitter pushes dubstep to new barriers in Skull Vault, laying a strong foundation of quality releases that he is sure to build upon in the future.
Kicking things off in full force, ‘Crusher’ is a colossal embodiment of Calcium’s unique yet monstrous sound. Eerie effects and a sinister melody induce goosebumps from the beginning before the true madness is unleashed. The producer’s distinct chainsaw-esque synths and gnarly stab layering shine at the forefront of the drops, without forgetting his usual skull-shattering percussion.
Wielding production diversity with ease, a whirling digital melody beckons forebodingly as an ethereal riser pierces the air, wavering delicately and setting an ominous stage for ‘Comply’. A grainy, throbbing vocal sample lingers momentarily before erupting into a chaotic surge of pulverizing bass and wonky synth jabs.
Quebec City-native and maestro of minimalist riddim flow, FLIX talents for weaving subtle percussion patterns within catastrophic walls of bass elects him as a deadly candidate for the standalone collaboration from the project. A playful, undulating accordion presents a warm embrace as pulses of bass thunder in the backdrop of ‘Turn It Up’. The tempo of the track expedites rampantly as frenzied drumroll launches crisply into calamitous heaves of pressurized bass and expertly placed beat breaks.
Capping things the project off as hard as he kicked it off, Calcium makes a statement with the fourth and final track of Skull Vault. Perhaps his wonkiest track to date, ‘Break This Down’ sways heavily toward the melodic side, before Calcium flexes new sounds and synths in the drops, while also playing with drum timing to give the project a fresh conclusion.
