- Filed under
- Drum and Bass and
- Dubstep
It’s been a little over 9 months since EDM heavyweights Excision and Downlink released what would become somewhat of a classic in the genre, “Crowd Control”. Undoubtedly one of the most consistently played songs at any dubstep show worth it’s weight in gold over those nine-months, I myself have experienced on a number of occasions just how brutal and electrifying it is to hear coming through any reliable set of Funktion 1 speakers. It also became somewhat of an internet phenomenon through it’s heavy use in a unique kind of Call Of Duty montage, in which the gunshots are matched to each and every beat in what are known as ‘gun syncs’.
It comes as no surprise then that this duo of remixes would be commissioned to accompany it. With Delta Heavy and Pixel Fist both fresh from their recent remixes of “Hitz” (Chase & Status/Tinie Tempah) and “London Riots” (RuN RiOT) respectively, the faith of the Rottun helmsman was well placed in choosing the artists for the job. Well placed indeed, as the remixes that were churned out are nothing short of excellent.
The first offering of the two by Pixel Fist is the only of them to be classed as a dubstep remix, with the Delta Heavy effort placed firmly in the DnB/Drumstep classification. The synths used in the original mix can be heard straight from the off, in harmony with the now famous sample ‘don’t fuck around’, before the unique way in which Pixel Fist matches their heavy wobbles with vocals (similar to the “London Riots” remix) is showcased with refreshing effectiveness. Similarly refreshing is the way in which they have maintained the feel of the original mix whilst implementing their own individual elements into the song; truly impressive.
As impressive as the first is, however, it seems to be largely overshadowed by its Delta Heavy counterpart. This is not exactly shocking, when you look at the duo’s remixing history. In the last year alone they have produced sensational remixes of tunes from the likes of Example, Avicii, Emalkay and Nero, and their latest original release ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ was perhaps one of the most impressing releases of the year. The sheer power of their Crowd Control remix is something to behold; the vast array of synths used is astounding, and the way they are coordinated to create this monster is even more so. The manipulation of the sounds of the original mix to create the intro really shows off the duo’s skills as both producers and sound engineers, and the tune’s massive bassline is sure to feature at shows around the world as it already has done at the recent Shambhala festival.
