Juno Recommends Dubstep July 2021

Review: Deep Medi murkers Kaiju return to Mala's label with another bulldozer EP - 'Troll'. The title track sets the tone and mood with its raw, curmudgeonly mid 2000s style groove. Elsewhere 'Counter It' looks more towards the club sound with its rifle-like kicks weaving a steppy storm beneath the tense, oppressive atmospheres before 'The Terrible' closes the EP with some incredibly unique and stark bass textures. DO feed the troll.

Review: Zahabi make a fine debut on Lion Charge Records here on a limited edition, hand-stamped 10". This one is designed to pumped out loud in soot-black basements. It's full of grit and late night menace, lurching bass and smoky atmosphere that get you lost in sound and compelled by the rhythm. '7th Seal' is the heavier of the two with dread vocals and plenty of cavernous space to allow everything to really resonate. 'Dance Of Obsidian' then brings stark dub chord stabs, watery sounds and rib-rattling bass.

Review: After joining forces with Beatcamp to release a digital-only cut last year, Trends returns to the imprint with an EP of weighty, floor-focused grime mutations that should appeal to a wide variety of bass-loving DJs. Title track 'Industrial Injection' is particularly potent, with the Oxford-based producer opting for stabbing sub-bass, hissing cymbal sounds and an up-tempo grime rhythm so tough it's probably made out of granite. The cowbell-sporting 'Jitterbug' is a drum machine hand-clap heavy number that sits somewhere between post-dubstep UK bass and mutant UK techno, while flipside 'City Lights' is a moody, head-nodding grime cut featuring dark strings and crunchy percussion.

Review: Sentry continue to keep watch, only letting the best stuff through their gates. Following The Widdler's cosmic trip for release 016, we stay west side for a two-track voyage from Canadian artist SUBstance. Two sides, two vibes; 'Dreamstate' is a tranquil, spacious hypnotic piece that laces carefully sculpted and subtle bass LFOs with eastern strings and calming pads. For a more solemn affair flip for 'Bitter End' as we sees him teaming up with Zameen-A and a whole string section of sounds for a much more tense and beguilingly moody. Dreamers, keep on dreaming.

Review: Unstoppable US crew Ternion Sound continue to dent our senses with their 140 witchcraft with this supreme collaboration collection with some of the most respected and equally forward-thinking peers. First comes Enigma Dubz who joins the fray for an alien shoot 'em up 'The Engineers' before Opus comes crashing into the blend on the ultra crisp and dreamy 'Mediator'. Flip for two more high level banger b2bs: 'Catacombs' (with LOST) is an absolute stinker a la Coki 2007 while 'Heart Machine' (with Smith) closes the show with true chainsaw magic. Friends will be friends.

Review: Fresh from Reflec, Soaker Sound is a brand new label from the artist who's usually spotted flexing on the likes of Lobster Theremin or bPitch Control (as Works Unit with Cleric) A home for his fusions between instrumental grime, breakbeats and more sinister elements of electro and techno, the whole six track collection packs major KOs in all directions from the Hudson Mohawk meets Benga style of 'Sleep' to the more traditional eski style string-drenched opener 'Switch'. An exciting excursion for an artist who never sits still yet always has time for reflection.