RANKZ makes his valiant return to Bassrush Records with his wonky yet banging EP, ‘BURN’.
The three-track offering flexes his production prowess with an experimental flair he’s bringing to the fore. The release serves as a direct follow-up to his breakout debut EP, ‘The Rebellion,’ which arrived on the label last year.
Setting the tone with a monstrous opening comes “LFG.” Glitched-out flourishes drift over suspense-inducing chords in the introduction. Possessed vocals creep in with a haunting underbelly while the track builds upon an industrial aesthetic. The brain-bending sound design drives the drops as cybernetic sounds cut between ruthless saws and cascading, hypnotic melodics. The addition of soul-shattering low-end darkens the direction further while increasing the impact.
The descent deepens as RANKZ drags listeners into “The Swamp.” Murky and menacing, the track packs a hip-hop swagger while embracing an experimental framework. The vocals move between commanding and sultry, creating a trance-like stasis. An alarm-inspired lead forges a skull-splitting sound that will transport listeners into another dimension. Gritty textures add a layer of filth that’s amplified by grimy basslines and crunchy drums. “The Swamp” remains grungy in all the right ways.
Drawing the project to a close is the titular track. “BURN” is built around a violent metal undercurrent. Faint screaming vocals and thrashing power chords provide the foundation for this vicious anthem. Wobbly synth squeals, glitchy textures, ominous pad accents, and electric guitar harmonics collide for a relentless no-holds-barred banger. Primed for mosh pits and scenes of destruction, “BURN” illustrates the devastating power possessed by the ever-rising artist.
Speaking on the core objective of his sophomore offering, RANKZ shares: “I produced these songs with the goal of creating a body of work that has an experimental throughline while also providing enough energy to go super hard on the dancefloor. Upon completion, it was obvious to me that Bassrush is the perfect home for this EP.”
Los Angeles-based producer RANKZ has been tearing out space for himself in dubstep and bass scenes with his mission to incite “rebellion against routine.” He first appeared on Bassrush’s ‘Prophecy Volume 4’ compilation with his track “Bulletproof,” and then followed it up with his debut EP, ‘The Rebellion.’ His music has received radio support from Steve Aoki’s ‘Aoki’s House,’ Zeds Dead’s ‘Deadbeats Radio,’ and Illenium’s ‘Phoenix Radio,’ and more.
Blurring boundaries between dubstep and experimental bass, RANKZ unleashes yet another project jam-packed with weapons on Bassrush Records.
RANKZ’s new EP ‘BURN’ is available on all platforms via Bassrush Records.
