Bassrush returns with another installment of their heavy-hitting compilation series
Bassrush Records is back with another jam-packed compilation. ‘The Prophecy Volume 8’ showcases the best in bass music with tracks ranging from dubstep to DnB, halftime, experimental bass, hardwave, and everything in between. With new music from TYNAN & OUTRAGE, YDG, Deadcrow, AIRGLO, VILLA, BADVOID, and more, ‘The Prophecy Volume 8’ is one of the hottest compilations of the summer.
Kicking off the project with force comes TYNAN & OUTRAGE’s “Ego Death.” The lead cut serves as the album’s opening track, and for good reason. Oklahoma City native TYNAN has been taking over the bass space with weird, left-of-center beats as well as more palatable dubstep and trap bangers. Meanwhile, Boulder-based OUTRAGE has been making a splash in the riddim lane by incorporating elements of garage and classic music into his heavy-duty cuts. The two intertwine their collective styles for a merciless monster. The synapse-snapping production is fueled by futuristic pads, mesmerizing string melodies, and prominent horn stabs, which fizzles out into a violent outburst of growling low-end, metallic synth sequences and trippy textures.
TYNAN outlines how he connected with OUTRAGE: “We met online last November after I had found Outrage's music. He sent over some unreleased tunes, and I knew IMMEDIATELY that I wanted to work with him. It all came together fairly quickly. Our styles complimented each other so well that we were able to get this song finished in about a month or two. We wrote it at a time when I was coming out of a transformative time in my personal and musical life. The name ‘Ego Death’ felt like an appropriate name to reflect my state of mind coming into the writing and composition of this track.”
YDG keeps the intensity flowing, taking listeners “In The Pit.” The ominous introduction paints a cinematic horror-inspired soundscape that furiously ramps up. Alarms and metallic sound design initiate listeners into the madness that ensues. The aggressive vocals take you into the mosh pit for a violent bout of headbanging and thrashing. This is a dubstep destroyer that’s built for festival season.
"Stoked to get this one out,” says YDG.”It’s been crushing in my live sets and Bassrush is the perfect label to put it out to the world!”
Giving listeners a “Gut Punch,” Perry Wayne continues his maniacal path of dubstep-infused destruction. True to the artist's signature, the track fuses dark and moving soundscapes with a ruthless cybernetic aesthetic. Robotic and forward-thinking, “Gut Punch” scores the sound of world destruction from the android overlords. The stripped-back final drop allows an all-powerful kick drum to radiate a sense of impressive resistance.
“The Enterprise expands its universe to Bassrush with ‘Gut Punch,’ and I couldn't be more thrilled to showcase its twists and turns,” explains Perry Wayne.
Dutch rising star Deadcrow delivers a high-octane offering in “UltraNova.” A true embodiment of his influences, the track mixes elements of hardwave, hardstyle, and dubstep for a thrilling ride. The melodies possess a retro feel, while the percussion builds a feeling of racing through the night at warp speed. The drops deliver an added heaviness without losing the thematic feeling continued throughout.
Deadcrow sheds light on the source of inspo behind his creation, saying: “My main focus with the song was to bridge between hardwave, hardstyle sounds and dubstep, as well as bringing in Y2K influences. The intro was inspired by mid-2000's hardstyle intros—namely, those of Brennan Heart—and in a way also the music during the Race Wars scenes in ‘The Fast and The Furious’ (2001). After having made the drop, I also felt like a good melody to lead into it would work well. To me, the song really captures my appreciation for the music I used to hear and listen to while growing up in the Netherlands, as well as my love for modern dubstep.”
“Turbine” draws inspiration from its namesake. AIRGLO's contribution to the compilation is a high-powered, spiraling adventure. The DnB anthem drifts between oscillating sound design and devastating drops. The gritty low-end is counterbalanced against upbeat synth plucks and a high-pitched vocal sample. The end result is gritty yet fun and ever-exhilarating.
"I was inspired by the wind turbines in Palm Desert,” explains AIRGLO. “On the way to one of the festivals. I thought it would be cool to make music that sounds as magnificent and as throttling.”
Ian Snow connects with Ashel Seasunz for the fittingly titled “Mind Splitter.” Ashel’s raps drive things forward with vivid imagery alongside a swagged-out delivery and razor-sharp flow. The backing is bass-heavy and uplifting, creating a transcendent anthem.
Elaborating on the collaborative process, Ian Snow reveals: “I’ve been a fan of Ashel’s for years, so before contacting him, I’d been producing a few tracks with his voice in mind. When I created the outline for ‘Mind Splitter,’ I knew he’d be perfect for it. His writing and poetry is next level, which you can clearly distinguish from the lyrics. Even though we went back and forth a few times, I was really just writing based on his voice, flow.”
“The track was energizing,” adds Ashel Seasunz. “I liked the freedom to deliver what inspired me from listening.”
Holding down the midway point, Sentient brings the “Violence.” The track is an aggressive and untamed dubstep heater that’s out for blood. Beeps in the introduction simulate a heartbeat. Rapid vocal loops and punchy percussion amplify the intensity before Sentient flatlines listeners with brutal bass and industrial drilling synths.
Sentient breaks down the process on how his offering came together, stating: ‘Violence’ is what I like to call an identity crisis of vibes and genres. The first drop was something I wanted to be extremely hype, but have moments of groove and wubs that the crowd could sway to. Once I found an arrangement I liked, I focused on nailing the fills and transitions to make everything work together nicely. For the second drop… let's just say I was feeling particularly angry that day. For the rest, I did my best to incorporate the heaviness (and the hype) from earlier in the song, while looking for ways to introduce new elements and keep things fresh.”
Joining forces for “Need Somebody,” BADVOID and Doctor Werewolf unleash a fierce drum & bass dinger. The windswept intro unveils a sense of euphoric bliss that’s expanded with the addictive vocals and pulse-raising risers. Distorted drops are anchored by gritty low-end and mind-shattering flourishes. The dark cut is a truly spine-tingling anthem.
BADVOID speaks on the collab: “The main inspiration for this track was to try and blend my heavy distorted bass with Doctor Werewolf’s signature sound. Doctor Werewolf’s euphoric intro alongside my distorted drop basses indulges the listeners on an ecstatic yet powerful journey, landing on one of my dream labels: Bassrush.”
Exploring the world of halftime, VEIL unleashes the booming “Activate.” The unassuming opening pairs metallic percussion with uneasy soundscapes, and robotic vocals. The track plays like a dystopian nightmare with brutal walls of bass flattening anything in its path. The glitchy track is raw and distorted with VEIL's inhuman sound design skills on full display.
VEIL expands on the excitement, exclaiming: “Beyond thrilled to have ‘ACTIVATE’ come out on the Bassrush imprint. They have been pioneering fresh and innovative sounds in EDM for years and thrilled that this track was a good fit for The Prophecy!"
“Starlight” sees VILLA and Ash2Dust pairing their talents for a masterful hardwave delight. Balancing futuristic tendencies and hints of nostalgia creates a timeless allure. The first drop is transcendent with a sense of epic determination and passion. The second injects a pounding kick-drum for a hardstyle-inspired punch that ups the energy and offers an exceptional impact when stripped away.
VILLA imparts her perspective, stating: “Earlier this year, I made a Tweet wondering who I should collaborate with, and Ash2Dust Tweeted back at me, but we didn't know each other at the time. I replied to him and told him to send me some demos and ‘Starlight’ was the first demo on the playlist, and I fell in love with the melody and the hardstyle kick. The original demo had more future bass leads, but when I heard the melody, I knew the track was destined to be a hardwave track, so I reworked the sounds until we both loved the current version.”
Rounding out the compilation comes Osyris’ “Horcrux.” The experimental single takes listeners into another galaxy. Dripping with ear candy and flexing the creator’s masterful sound design techniques, the track feels like it was born on another planet. The frequency hits different, the rhythms are masterfully off-kilter, and the melodies are wonderfully alien.
Sharing the closing thoughts, Osyris adds: “Rough patches in my life are where I write some of my favorite songs. I’m grateful to have an outlet to pour all my emotions into when I’m not feeling my best and sort out how I’m feeling with vibrations and frequencies. The reason I named this song ‘Horcrux’ is because they are magical objects you can essentially split your soul into and sometimes I refer to songs as Horcruxes because they hold energy and emotions from how I was once feeling. It’s also a reminder for me that this too shall pass and there’s no other way then up when you’re down.”
With the release of ‘The Prophecy: Volume 8’ Bassrush once again cements its status as one of the peak purveyors of all things bass while shining a light on the scene's brightest talents.
