The fifth installment in Subtronics’ NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL RIDDIM series has arrived, and well, this one just hits different. Textured with shrill synth work and the metallic grit of Subtronics’ well-known bass lines, “VOLUME 5” occupies a raucous 30-minute time slot that packs a deafening one-two punch.
daily reminder that i make mostly heavy dubstep, not riddim, and that the mixes are titled 90% ironically cuz 90% of the music isn’t real riddim
— NTWICR V 5 OUT NOW (@Subtronics) January 9, 2020
Each minute forcefully exemplifies what Subtronics asserts in the description of the mix: “it’s seriously just dubstep, it’s always been dubstep.” The dub-indulgent outing is part of Subtronics’ larger project of stylistic self-definition. Despite the tongue-in-cheek titling, he clearly doesn’t mind being defined by one single genre.
If the wholly capitalized format of the mix’s title tells streamers anything, it’s that, as in previous segments of the series, Subtronics will punctuate NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL RIDDIM VOLUME 5 with his bombastic brand of ear-splitting bass. VOLUME 5 is no exception, no matter what you choose to call the genre.