Drumcode Sweden Vinyl & CDs

Review: Drumcode label head and the so-called CEO of Business Techno steps up to his own mighty Drumcode with an outing which keeps him at the forefront of big room sounds, which is just where he has been for more than a quarter of a century. 'Ghost Kiss' hammers out edgy drums and ghoulish vocals bring character to the musical rhythms. On the flip is 'Pilot' with its flashy, trance-tinged synth energy and menacing basslines. 'Jack' is a hard and dark cut with motoring drums and sawtooth synths that bring plenty of on-point maximalism.

Review: Adam Beyer continues to refine his vision of techno with a release that melds intricate sound design with driving rhythms. The lead track layers ethereal synths and hypnotic vocal refrains, morphing into a pulsing, primal groove anchored by precise percussion. It's a masterclass in atmospheric tension, balancing futuristic elements with raw energy. The second track delves deeper, driven by metallic basslines and siren-like hoover tones, creating a dystopian soundscape that's both immersive and ominous. Beyer's ability to seamlessly fuse cutting-edge sound design with dancefloor functionality reaffirms his status as a cornerstone of modern techno.

Review: The latest from Swedish techno legend is a full-throttle techno assault, pushing Drumcode's legacy forward with relentless energy. The title track is a peak-time juggernaut, built on heavy chords, pounding kicks and a futuristic intensity that commands the dancefloor. With its driving momentum and anthemic hooks, it's a high-octane statement from two producers at the top of their game. On Side-2, 'Living In The Moment' ventures into atmospheric territory, teetering on the edge of trance with sci-fi textures and sweeping builds. Its long, tension-heavy progression culminates in devastating drops, overloading the senses with a euphoric yet punishing crescendo. With Drumcode nearing its 30th year, this release proves there's no slowing downithe label continues to deliver high-impact techno designed for maximum effect. Beyer and Brown's collaboration is a successful dose of tension, release and unrelenting intensity.

Review: Adam Beyer and Green Velvet are legendary names in techno music for over 30 years now. Their powerhouse track 'Simulator' receives a set of fresh remixes, extending to some producers to show off their version of this lofty new classic. First up, Mha Iri, a pivotal figure for Drumcode, delivers a scorching remix. She retains the original's fierce bass stabs, using them as formidable motifs, while injecting an abundance of intensity through electrifying builds and drops. Next, Odd Mobb, an emerging talent from Australia recognized by Fred Everything and Skrillex, infuses his four-minute rework with high energy. His remix emphasises the low-end elements and introduces vibrant new bursts of color, creating a dynamic rendition that keeps listeners engaged. Finally, Chris Avantgarde, known for his inventive productions, crafts a remix that defies genre boundaries. Combining elements of breaks, bass, electronica and techno, his interpretation spreads across all of his personal influences. Pressed on neon green 'rippled' vinyl, this record looks as dangerous as it sounds.

Review: Adam Beyer shares his first collaboration with Vintage Culture, 'Lift Me Up' featuring Kyozo. A suspenseful covenant formed between three huge-room techno striators, 'Lift Me Up' was born from a fruitful back-and-forth shared on the road to Sonus Festival in Croatia. Packing a clenched sawtooth lead - one that hardly requires the development that the track nonetheless indulges by way of tuned impacts and chord transitions - this one ends up a dramatic build, as a vaunted vocal lines abjures us to "lift me up", as we listeners end up, paradoxically, the ones uplifted.

Review: Drumcode presents the second iteration of their soon-to-be-long-running 'Elevate' series, which in their usual audacious fashion features no less than eight label debutantes take the reigns on huge room techno production duties. The compilation's manifesto is simple: platform a broader range of emerging artists on Drumcode and help elevate the next generation to make strides in their careers. With that, we have the delight of selecting our picks of the bunch (all personal preference, of course, though you can trust our picks are educated guesses): in this case, it's got to be the slightly wonky and out-of-the-ordinary ones, those being Simina Grigoriu's 'Global Soldier' and Marie Vaunt's 'ADSR'.

Review: Oscar Escapa continues to carve out his space in the techno scene with his latest offering, a pair of tracks that are as compelling as they are inexorable. Hailing from Barcelona, Escapa has made a name for himself with productions that blend hard-hitting rhythms with atmospheric intricacy. On 'Enemy Returns', he delivers an unremitting onslaught of hyperactive techno, driven by a pounding kick drum, a gnarly bass riff and dissonant industrial stabs that dart in and out with menacing precision. The track's chaotic energy is held together by subtle shifts in texture, creating an almost hypnotic effect despite its aggression. Flip-side, Escapa teams up once again with Joanna Dark for 'It's My Life', a track that balances industrial intensity with an odd sense of melody. Dark's robotic vocal, repeating the track's title like a mantra, contrasts sharply with the swirling percussive layers and fuzzy bass arp. The track's unsettling atmosphere is heightened by unexpected guitar notes, which provide a brief respite from the techno madness. Escapa once again proves his mastery of balancing fierce, implacable energy with nuanced, finely-tuned composition, solidifying his role as a rising star in the genre.

Review: Drumcode's limited series is back with a bang here as Simina Grigriu steps up with four thrilling and rolling cuts that will destroy any main room. The drums are front and centre on 'Declare Me' as they power on beneath twanging synths and pulsing beeps. 'Astral Waters' has a more funky techno style with glitchy claps and rolling bass, then 'Technology Of Prayer' brings trance-tinged synths to the party. It's one to get hands in the air before the closer 'The Right Calibre' sinks back into a deeper techno sound with rubbery kicks and hypnotic synth loops.

Review: HI-LO, the darker techno alias of Oliver Heldens, is no stranger to the techno world, having already established himself on Adam Beyer's Drumcode label. His latest collaboration with LUSU on the track 'DIZZY' is an electrifying take on hyperactive techno, blending frenetic percussion with driving synths. The track's use of a pitch-shifted vocal sample from Game's 'U Turn Me On' adds an extra layer of playfulness, yet the bassline ensures it stays grounded. The EP's second track, 'Mesmerize', offers a more emotional depth, with its Moroder-inspired bass and jazzy melodies carrying the track forward while keeping it high-energy.

Review: Manifest drumcode signee Mha Iri shares her latest 'Neon Storm', where geometric blitzes and "get-down" vocals excoriate the dancefloor. The lead track screams with colossal, sinking-feeling synth design, as though a War Of The Worlds tripod were heard stomping on skyscrapers a city away, and that this could possibly an exciting, not terrifying experience. 'Moving Machines' firms the bio-mechanoid vibe, with its added chord crimps, glottal mids and ultra-processed kick centres.

Review: This EP marks a rather monumental milestone for Swedish label Drumcode: it is the 300th release but out by Adam Beyer's agenda setting big room stable and it still bares all the hallmarks of the label that first emerged decades ago. Namely that is big drums with a weighty dose of concrete funk, earth-shattering hits and flashy strobe-like snares. A female vocal is also daubed throughout this one to add a little extra spice. On the flip side of Mha Iri's Bombay EP is 'Existence' which is another one that will rattle walls of any club and blow away the dance floor with its sheer techno power.

Review: Phat bottomed Drumcode techno of grander proportions by way of festival favourite Massano. Following his stellar three-track EP 'Telepathic', the Simulate label head and future-thinker now offers us a stark mix of choppy leads and spitting, pressure-release snares here, in the form of 'The Lights'. His signature use of momentary 32nd notes, and a lasery lead line, functions as a nod to adjacent "big room" techno styles, while a modal swirling about a suspensory tonal centre offers much towards the way of a faintly Middle Eastern melody. As its many multilayered lead lines grow increasingly twinging and chaotic, so too does an atmoss of shocking tension grow in the rave-hangar.

Review: Now well over 300 rises deep, Swedish staple Drumcode is one of main room techno's mightiest ever imprints. Adam Beyer has stepped in though several sonic evolutions all while staying true to its original signature sound - namely drum heavy techno. Massano shows he has mastered that style with this new Telepathic EP. The title cut is lit up with video-style game synths that flash abut over acid touches and rolling kicks. 'Destructure' pairs whitings back and allows some freaky synths to entangle themselves around the drums and 'The Method' veers towards harder techno worlds with hints of trance.

Review: Big room techno duo Pig & Dan bring their monstrous sounds to suitable supersized techno label Drumcode here. The ever-present pair open with 'I Need You', which pairs have marching drums with a raw, frazzled lead synth that brings texture and unsettling energy to some atmospheric pads. It all leads to a breakdown which in turn builds towards a heavy, raw as you like drop. 'Activate' is much more on its toes and keen to push on with hooky end synth motifs, chunky drums and a sense of unstoppable motion that washes over you time and time again.

Review: Led by a title track that proves to be a powerful, futuristic romp, a peak-time anthem, designed to electrify crowds, Konstantin Sibold's 'Lost In Space' EP is energetic techno carefully crafted for festival main stages and late-night club settings. 'The Arrival' follows with a shift in mood, more atmospheric and trance-tinged techno, evolving through sweeping pads and layered percussion, pushing forward a sense of anticipation and energy that will deliver a proper, soaring build in a DJ set. Rounding off the EP, 'Dark Matter' takes a more melodic approach, weaving intricate synth lines and evolving textures. A well-rounded exploration of powerful, yet nuanced techno, perfect Drumcode gear.

Review: Up-and-comer techno stalwart Bart Skils drops two new rather exciting menace-mongerers for Drumcode, 'Nexus' and 'Set It Right', both of which make up the brilliantly Japanese music-infused 'Sakura' EP. Bringing pentatonic scales and synth koto emulations to an impressively towering pair of propulsions, the selection is fittingly frenetic and yet remains sure to be a unique standout in the Drumcode catalogue; listen out for some prime vocal work on the B-side too, giving rise to a supreme pluck-led drop.

Review: Alex Stein's latest release, The Chant, on the veteran techno label Drumcode, delivers three powerful tracks that masterfully blend futuristic techno with 90s vibes. Each track stands out, making this EP a mainfloor essential. 'The Chant' is a techno powerhouse, featuring a unique vocal element and a massive acid sound. It's a robust workout with a big, expansive sound that commands attention. 'Rush' continues the intensity with its heavy beats and masterful builds. The track's melodic additions enhance the overall experience, making it a standout piece that will drive any crowd wild. 'Tantra' closes the EP with an epic vocal chorus and wobbling main chords. Its percussive elements and resonant energy create a dynamic rush of energy. Overall, The Chant features Alex Stein's ability to craft huge-sounding techno tracks perfect for main floors, maintaining a balance between nostalgic influences and forward-thinking production. Those who know Drumcode know what to expect.

Review: The mighty Drumcode is back with another one of its beefy techno 12"s, this time with Sudo bringing the noise. The whole of the a-side is given over to 'Real World', a taught, twanging techno cut with scintillating snare rolls and pulsating pads driving it forward beneath raw vocals. On the flip, that knack for industrial sound design also reappears with more metal clangs but also some trance-inducing chords which will zone out dancers on 'Construction'. Last but not least is 'Mercury', a bright, upbeat trance-techno cut with euphoric feels washing over the jacked up beats.

Review: Wehbba and Drumcode are a great match for one another given the big room potency of the techno they both like to deal in. This new two track kicks off with 'Awaken', a urgent, hard techno slammer with flat-footed and unrelenting drums, bright as you like trance synths that light up the floor and pervasive energy that cannot fail to electrify. 'Revelation' then gets more raw with frazzled, tightly woven loops, rising synth tension and monstrous drums designed to get vast strobe-lit dance floors locked in and losing their minds.