When I first returned to immersing myself in the world of DnB back after a 14 year haitus in 2009, one of the first producers I gravitated to Metrik. I think it was due to the uplifting vibes that oozed out of every proverbial pore of his releases. There seemed to be something in the productions that made me want to jump about like a lunatic with a massive smile on my chops. Since that time Metrik’s popularity has soared, partially due to support from mainstream national radio DJ’s, but primarily because he makes great tunes! So when I noted that the Between Worlds EP was released today, I knew it would be something that I would need to add to the shopping cart. Between Worlds crosses between genres of DnB, Drumstep and Dubstep showing why he’s seen as one of the ‘Go to Guys’ when mainstream pop acts want a DnB remix added to their single package.
The standout/must have tracks on the EP have to be T-2000, with it’s old school hardcore stabs, Terminator theme styled breakdown which bubbles into a crescendo of bass and Drum Step before switching halfway into a full on accelerator screaming DnB monster. Despite being a dancefloor destroyer in it’s own right, it’s a useful tool to
switch up the flow of your set if that’s what floats your boat. The second stand out ‘I See You’, sees Metrik team up with one of my all time favourite vocalists, Kathy Brown to bring the sunshine with this vibrant little slab of soulful/electro/liquid DnB (Bloody hell, there’s a lot of sub-genres in this jungle scene!) that will leave the crowd with their hands in the air during the breakdown and brocking out once the beat kicks in! Even if you’re not one to fork out for full EP’s both of these tunes need to be picked up immediately.
The remainding tracks are still to the expected high standards that Metrik and Viper recordings are known for, with ‘Genesis’ (which which could easily be mistaken for a Camo & Krooked track, and that’s not a bad thing!) and it’s rumbling filthy bassline and NES game styled rift. ‘Between Worlds’ sounds like it wouldn’t be out of place in one of those early 80’s ‘future world’ movies (think Vangelis’s epic score to Bladerunner and you wouldn’t be far wrong) with it’s atmospheric uplifitng chords tagged with grimy beats and bass. The final track on the EP ‘Nightdrive’ whilst maybe not hitting the highs of the rest of the release, is still head and shoulders above a lot of the tracks usually associated with this sub-genre of DnB. Plus, it’s featured as the free download on the EP, so you’d be stupid not to pick it up!
All in all this is a solid release from Viper and the man like Metrik and I’d recommend it to all.
