Bong-Ra - Monster

Just when I was getting worried Enduser was the only one still making breakcore, so Jason "Bong-Ra" Kohnen knocks me on my arse with embarrassment.

Sitting at the more focused end of the breakcore spectrum, alongside End and Jason Forrest, Bong-Ra's new EP is a breath of fresh air. The aptly-titled 'Monster' incorporates drum and bass, dub, breakcore and electro into a fast and heavy whirlwind of live instrumentation and programmed kicks and snares.

The first track 'Behemoth' does exactly what it says on the tin, smashing you square in the trousers with a straightforward ballbreaking wobbly bassline to break up all those loud, nasty snares. If you were a fan of his old productions you'll enjoy this and you will take note of the step up in production quality. Not that his production was ever poor, but the sound seems cleaner and more focused.

The second track 'Cyclops' is a more considered affair, using a playful string section to add a sinister veneer, bringing to mind Venetian Snares' masterpiece 'Rossz Csillag Alatt Született' and even Mr. Bungle. Once again, Bong-Ra demonstrates his ability to chop and change between styles with the minimum of fuss, whilst still retaining a unifying structure within his records.

Bong-Ra "Monster mix" by ad noiseam

Stand out tracks: Behemoth, Kraken, Cyclops

Title: Monster (ADN131)
Artist: Bong-Ra
Out now on Ad Noiseam

Hecq - Sura

When breakcore producers started to put out dubstep records I can't deny I wasn't wary of the results. So when I heard people like Hecq and Matta coming from Ad Noiseam my fears were totally put to rest.

Incorporating a lot of the rave samples of old and new, Hecq bridges the gap between dub and breaks. Expect jarring time signatures, crushing metal rhythms and possibly the heaviest bassline of the year.

It's records like this that make me wish I could DJ. When I listened to 'Sura' it was like listening to that first Bong-Ra or Enduser track when I was 16 thinking: "What in the blue fuck is this?" - and I mean that in the best possible way. No, really.

The b-side 'Tiamat' starts off with an epic soundscape reminscient of those really dark industrial records that Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle used to put out in the late 70s and early 80s. You should only listen to this record through the best speaker system money can buy so you can really feel the bass oscillate and swirl 360 degrees round your head and the snares crash into the bass of your skull.

Stand out tracks: Sura
Download: Hecq - Tiamat

Title: Sura (adn128)
Artist: Hecq
Out now on Ad Noiseam.

Full Metal Reissue

Bong-Ra has reissued the 'Full Metal Racket' CD on Ad Noiseam this week. The album is a collection of two of his most banging 12-inch releases, 'Grindkore' and 'SickSickSick' and a few unreleased tracks for good measure.

It's predominantly a speedcore and grindcore affair but it does have some ruddy great breakcore tunes. If you don't have any decks then this release is pretty invaluable unless you're one of those awful buckaneering file-sharers we hear about.

It's a super limited edition and may be your last chance to get it first hand. So go to Ad Noiseam and download the little beauty. While stocks last and all that!