When engaging in conversations with those who are not fond of electronic music as a whole, let alone dubstep or heavy bass music, I commonly find that the main cornerstone of my opposition’s argument lies in the idea that “all electronic music sounds the same”. While I obviously believe differently, I believe it is rather foolish to completely dismiss this idea entirely as if it has no clout at all. Some music regardless of the genre can at times become repetitive, monotonous, or dull yet isn’t this the exact reason why some artists have attained their “elite” status? Whether speaking of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime or even Skrillex these artists have pushed themselves to develop a sound which differentiates themselves from the rest. I bring up these points not to start a rouse comparing musical legends to the likes of Skrillex but more so to highlight the success that results when an artist continually pushes the boundaries of their production, sound design, and vision to create something unlike anyone or anything else.
Zeds Dead, the elite Canadian bass music duo, are no exception to the argument I prefaced above. Their latest release, their Hot Sauce EP, reaffirms this fact with each and every one of five original tracks included on the record. The EP kicks of with the track Demons which happens to be my favorite track of the EP. Combining haunting vocal samples with earsplitting synths and slow pounding bassline, Demons is dark and gritty in all the right ways. The next selection off the EP, Mr. Sub, once again illustrates that in many cases Zeds Dead feel no need to abide by the limitations of a genre. Mr. Sub is slightly reminiscent of their track Rumble in the Jungle however it possesses a tech-house vibe that definitely sets the track apart from any of their previous releases. The next track, Playa, firmly asserts that just because a track contains 808’s does not mean it is automatically considered trap. The final two tracks, Rave and Trouble, continue to highlight Zeds Dead‘s creative genius in two very different manners. Rave, a pulsing instrumental equipped with an exquisite build that expertly breaks into a full on breakbeat jam while Trouble conveys the slower glitch-hop infused bass sounds so prominent in the duo’s last EP, Victor.
After the first play through it became blaringly evident that with the release of their Hot Sauce EP, Zeds Dead have once again solidified the fact that while their sound may their transcend genres, their music will always remain distinct and powerful.