It took me several days to finally classify Eptic’s new EP. “Flesh & Blood” is that kind of experimental work that explores the vague boundaries of the genre, taking the listener on a trip into the American producer mind.
The main characteristic that impressed me is the sci-fi atmosphere of the EP, starting from the cover to the samples used. Eptic has always surfed around in these vibes, but I felt that he tried to infuse the mini-album with this concept. The futuristic essence of all the drops is another exciting, even though it is a predictable concept from such an artist. Eptic tried to push many boundaries, slowly developing his drops, adding elements after elements, daring more and more. He’s capable of treating dubstep linearly and cleanly; you can feel that in the “Power” transition, for example. A risky game that in the end, deserves its positive feedbacks.
The Tracks
“Violence” immediately impressed me with its heavy bassline and that DnB attitude. Bar after bar, Eptic developed the drop’s scheme into something more experimental, while keeping the entertainment level stable. I can say the same about “Power“, which features a more “sci-fi” mood in the intro and then escalates in a dark dubstep drop. I didn’t like the various vocal shots used in the EP and in that track, in particular, I felt it was unnecessary, but let’s admit that: they are always unpredictable. Lastly, “Beyond The Stars” features another calm, ambient intro and a similar “Power” strategy (but slightly more relaxed and more linear).
“Let It Go” with Dillon Francis didn’t meet my expectations, though. I labeled the drop as a “moombah Bumaye,” which is an interesting take… But the dispersive essence of its break (vocal loop, in particular, and some segments) ruined my experience.
Personal favourite: “Undefeated.” I liked the distorted vocal there, and the overall scheme was incredibly dynamic, with various experimentations in the drop. That’s where Eptic concentrated his experimentalism, mixing multiple samples in a variable composition.
Jumping to conclusions is hard here, I’m not used to Eptic and dubstep in general… But this has been a great experience. I’m happy to see him on Monstercat, and I suggest checking “Flesh & Blood” out, especially if you are into the genre. Attention, it’s capable of impressing even “foreigners” like me!
What do you think?
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