Found this very interesting tweet from Nawtystep (a bass music reviewer) with 5 very bold claims.
There hasn’t been a front-to-back good bass album in the 2020’s
Truly top DJ sets are hard to come by
With a sub-label halycon could’ve got to NSD level
UK/US dubstep should be called completely different things
stealing fire is infinitely better than simulation
Grab on to your mf seats because these takes are pretty much describing the industry right now.
Starting with #1: There hasn’t been a front-to-back good bass album in the 2020’s
While music has always been subjective, Your Trashmaster Hz (and 15 different personalities) can confirm that this ALMOST true.
IF it wasn’t for Feed Me keeping the Bass Music scene alive.
Granted, Bass music has not been in my domain since 2017 that riddim fully took over and everything started sounding the literal same.
But from the bass albums I’ve given a try, there’s always 3-4 good songs (out of the usual 14+ songs).
Zooming out in the industry as a whole…
It’s getting to that stage.
The 2020’s has both been full of all time favorite albums…
And also completely killed all hype and expectations for further releases.
It’s usually been the albums that I didn’t look forward to that blew me away.
And while I can count with my 2 hands the number of GOOD Front-to-Back albums…
It’s only the cost of entropy.
The industry has become so saturated that if you don’t have consistent major releases you risk fading into obscurity.
Hell, making an album is already hard as it is. Now you have to add the pressure of releasing one every 2 years to stay relevant???
No wonder it becomes an issue of Volume Negates Luck.
But making the claim that there are no good front to back BASS albums when
Feed Me has released 2
Zeds Dead recently released an amazing one (though I guess it’s not “loud bass”)
Yeah those are all I got lmfao. That’s where the ALMOST comes from.
Bass music aside…
We are in the SECOND Golden Era of Electronic Music.
Yes, there’s never before in history been so much music. There’s an unsustainable amount of talent right now.
And even then it has never been better to be an electronic music listener.
As you’ll hear in our “Best of 2025” collection coming soon™. There are STILL a lot of front-to-back phenomenal albums.
You just have to know where to look. You as a Dumpster Diver already found the treasure trove. You’re welcome.
Alright let’s move on to #2: Truly top DJ sets are hard to come by
I have an admission to make.
I don’t really listen to DJ sets to find new music. But from what I’ve read and from the limited sets I’ve heard…
It’s kinda true?
At some point you start hearing the same 5 songs.
For example: Last year Hyperoxia sent me videos from EDC Orlando. I shit you not:
Knock2(uah) - dashstar* was played in at least 8 SETS.
Yeah the song will get a party started.
But seriously? People are playing it wayyy to safe with the picks.
Which again, entropy taking its toll.
Electronic music genres become echo chambers after a certain amount of time. And frankly we got so many mf DJs that its a race to the bottom.
Quick one for #3: With a sub-label Halcyon could’ve got to NSD level
Sucks to suck I guess?
I do miss NSD. They kept industry quality high and released some of the all time best albums.
Seriously, go and listen to NSD era dubstep. If you compare it to today you will hear the scene devolving.
Alright on to #4: UK/US dubstep should be called completely different things
Yes. Here are some name ideas:
American Dubstep: Loud Slop that Peaked in 2016
UK Dubstep: Loud slop that should have stuck to dnb.
But being honest, the difference goes for all genres.
It’s still hard to describe but in my years of experience I can say that:
A: America sounds more marketable, social media friendly. There’s definitely a lot more energy in it.
And in my opinion, it’s trying to catch up to the European levels of depth.
B: European electronic music is more about innovation, throwing shit at the wall and seeing what works, and focusing on production above all.
This is not to bash on American music. There’s PHENOMENAL artists like Joyryde, No Mana, Kill the Noise, Eagle Eyed Tiger, etc.
But if you look at British Creatures, it’s a league of it’s own.
For how hated British people are, they have an immaculate cultural record on making good art.
Don’t even get me started on Eastern European music. We’ll be here all night.
Last and saddening #5: Stealing Fire is infinitely better than Simulation. (Both are Virtual Riot albums)
Look. I’ve been listening to Virtual Riot ever since I started listening to electronic music.
That’s almost 12 years of listening to that German Gremlin.
He made the best dubstep and electro house I have ever heard (back in 2014-2016). As a sound designer he is masterwork tier.
But ever since 2017 and the great riddimificatoin…
It just don’t hit the same man.
Yes, he still has PHENOMENAL songs. I’m sure we have sent a couple from him before.
Both of the albums mentioned I gave a “okay sure it’s just more ridmid slop that sounds really good”
But 80% of his releases since 2017 have been huge hits or misses.
I just don’t like riddim (or as I’ll call it from now on ridmid). I think it’s insanely situational and devolved dubstep back into sounds you play to scare off old people.
Truly a shame considering I was dubstep’s strongest soldier back in those years.
Which album I liked the most?
The Classics (2017)
Alright. RANT OVER.
TLDR to all the points:
Not true.
Yeah. It becomes an echo chamber of people playing the same songs and won’t stop yapping on the mf mic
NSD was where dubstep peaked
US/EURO electronic music sounds fundamentally different.
Both are slop and only had 3-4 good songs. Production quality is INSANE tho.
Now if you’re still here after reading that many words.
You are a real one.
Maybe you agree, maybe you disagree. I’d love to hear your thoughts. The 15 personalities aren’t as entertaining as the one that disagrees gets exiled.
As for today’s song…
Let’s send some mf bass music why not.
This is by Effin. One of the few dubstep artists that I can actually say are enjoyable.
Ironically, he’s
An American’t that has phenomenal sound design and production value…
been releasing since NSD era
His last 2020 albums are also not good Front-to-Back (but they get damn close)
Has 2 albums released in 2020’s that the newest is better than the oldest
So he goes against literally everything I just spent 1,000 words ranting about.
Of course, it’s the exception. The norm is still playing catchup.
This is a song that I’ve been hearing since release.
Here is yet another list of why it’s worth your time:
Stands out from 80% of dubstep released this past year
Has beautiful sound production
Crunchy yummy bass you can feel this one
If you don’t like this one you can play anything else from the album and you’ll like that one more
It’s just Effin good.
Njoy
Genre: Another Dream of what dubstep should be
Always hating on Ridmid Forward
Hz
P.S. If you do like Ridmid, it’s okay. Just don’t play it around me thx.
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