Since its inception in 2004, Shogun Audio has been responsible its fair share of high-quality drum and bass, thanks to a stable of very talented producers. Despite criticism from some quarters for releases which have over-promised and under-delivered, the label’s stylistically diverse output has attracted a large and loyal fan base.
After seven seemingly short years Shogun have reached their milestone 50th release – the hotly anticipated Way Of The Warrior album. And a glance at the contributing artists will surely have even the doubters salivating, with appearances from Icicle, D Bridge, Phace, Rockwell, Break, Alix Perez and Commix.
With strong support from some of the scene’s top DJs, the hype surrounding Way Of The Warrior prior to its release was massive – but does it deliver the goods?
SpectraSoul slips smoothly into first gear with soulful liquid roller The Gift, before the brooding bassline of Cemetry sets the tone for Icicle’s pounding Alien Groove. There is a moment of respite provided by the melancholic vocals of Since We’ve Been Apart, followed by the dark, pulsating Jupiter from label owners Friction & K Tee.
Phace & Rockwell serve up a psychotic fusion of their trademark styles with Rat Race – an addictively glitchy neurofunk banger which will leave you twitching on the floor, reaching feebly for a rewind. A tune definitely deserving of its own paragraph.
Unfortunately, the cracks begin to show in the two subsequent tracks, which are both disappointingly dull liquid efforts. Despite a promising intro, the poorly-placed vocal sample in Break’s Trying succeeds only in making you wish you were listening to S.P.Y.’s awesome By Your Side instead, and it’s a mystery why it took three well-respected and innovative artists to create the uninspiring Montpellier – too many cooks, perhaps?
Icicle & Distance take an excursion into deep dubstep with Exhale, before Alix Perez breathes life back into proceedings with the dark and minimal Exemption. Rockwell returns to form with some razor-sharp edits in 4U, and Icicle & Commix wrap up with the excellent Ultra Clean.
Refreshingly for a label compilation, this is more than just a random collection of tracks – the running order has been carefully considered and despite its flaws Way Of The Warrior is a cracking album. Don’t miss out.
