Welcome to Violence

Violent rolls bringing the observer's consciousness to it's full awareness and capability

This was the very first exposure I've ever had to drum 'n' bass and, needless to say, I'm now hooked. This album is basically a delicious, explosive platter sampling almost every (good) subgenre of d'n'b there is, including techstep, breakcore, and the like. Some tracks (i.e. California Schemin') are meant for dancing, and would fit perfectly as hyper car chase music, while others (i.e. Science) are meant more for listening, or perhaps general "grooving" (i.e. Culture). If you aren't going to buy the whole album, then at least purchase "California Schemin'", "Science", "Violent Sound" and "Culture", the best songs on the entire album. Don't get me wrong, though--every single song is pure gold (or platinum), and songs like "Mass Transit" and "Dead Planet" make you want to keep listening over and over again. A year+ later, I'm still hooked and listen to these songs over and over again.

This isn't a bad album, but few too few songs actually stand out and make a lasting impression. Most of the songs start out not-to-shabby, but don't really grip the listener into a groove-entralled state of mind. Most of the songs are just too easy and lack complexity. After a few rounds of the album, it becomes quickly forgotten. It's an average work of music.

This is the good stuff, the kind of stuff usually only released on vinyl. Purchase and internalize, humans.

This album is pretty freakin' crazy. I'm not crazy about some of the jazzy tracks in the middle of the album, but the beginning and end are sick. If you don't want to get the whole thing, get "California Schemin'" and "Culture". Overall though it's a great album, easy to listen to front to back.

California Schemin' is one nasty piece o' machinery. Good album

"Culture" and "Dead Planet" gave me goosebumps. Their hybrid hip hop beats are a great in-between for those hard 160 beats per minute songs. "California Schemin'" was like the Hive version of "Sabotage" by The Beastie Boys. Certain tracks on here experiment with new drum arrangements, and others are in more traditional fashion; so there's a little of everything--jazz, intense femme vocals, and groud-breaking original beats. I'll be listening to it for the rest of the month at least, and I'm sure I'll hear some friends spinning some of these tracks on vinyl when I come home. What appealed to me the most in this compilation was Hive's notorious old school samples and snagging beats and Gridlok's evil bass. Keaton and Echo are new to me, and they'll definitely have my listen on their next work. I recommend this work to any DnB head and any person in for a taste of real electronic music.

I have been wating for this album for a coulple of months, and when i found out it was pre releaced on itunes i was overjoyed. If you like catchy music and good dance/electronic tunes this is the album for you!