Compilation Review: ‘This Is How We Roll’ (Keysound Recordings)

This Is How We Roll Keysound Recordings

★★★★☆

From being steamrollered into submission by Keysound’s extra long collusion Keepers of the Light, last year’s forbidden family of dubstep shamen who burrowed further and further into bass recesses until it had to start digging up to see daylight again, This is How We Roll ripostes. Not coming up for air anytime soon either, 14 tracks snatch the incentive of leaving soundsystems and civilisations crumbling, in a rally of blade sharpening, buzzsaw ducking (Mumdance & Logos’ “In Reverse”), sludge-caked, Molotov sipping eliminators.

Dead of night techno mutants lie in wait, searing the sky with a string of bass torpedoes – bro-step, be gone, and post-dubstep, with Moleskin unable to tilt the balance all by himself, is vanquished by rat-a-tat aggressors. These are the dark arts spelt out and spilt by rebel, win-at-any-cost droids who also preach the eerily dogmatic, writing an urban grime-gothic that will hunt you down, even if their bulk seems against them.

The same old story? Though unrepentant, there’s a swagger able to make moves like a mega-weight gentleman thief. Authentic dub samples are hauled into the firing line (Samrai’s “Hear Me Now”), as spots of mischief try and distract you while grunting bass keeps lookout (Visionist’s rascal strings rifling through “Dangerous”). Electro clarification flows from E.m.m.a.’s “Peridot” and Fresh Paul’s “Blaster” smashes planets together while an orchestra chronicles the magnitude. Most of all, it’s a really easy collection to get into, providing instant rushes and razes.

File under: LHF, Chestplate, Tectonic