Apashe - Tomahawk (Original Mix)

Ritual is the second EP by Belgian producer Apashe on Kannibalen Records. Following the breakout success of his earlier effort, Contamination, Apashe has spent the past year locked in the studio, crafting what could be the perfect soundtrack for a post-apocalyptic tribal gathering of bass heads, rave kids and sound nerds. The title track, which kicks off the EP, is a riveting collaboration with Kannibalen label heads Black Tiger Sex Machine, showcasing both Apashe’s mastery of bass design and BTSM’s knack for melodramatic orchestral breakdowns. The second cut, Voodoo, is a menacing concoction of blaring horns and warped invocations that plays out like the guttural sermon of a possessed witch doctor. On Ritual, the third track, Apashe combines a Bulgarian chant sample with bubbling synth riffs and low bass rumbles to create a unique feet-shuffling 110-bpm experience. The fourth song, Tomahawk, pairs Apashe’s signature growls of distorted, granular harshness with a wild organ melody, demonstrating that the Belgian is indeed a force to be reckoned with, not only in sound design but also in song-writing. The EP is bookended by two remixes of Tomahawk. The first one, by Kai Wachi, is another slice of speaker-crushing dubstep perfection from the Idaho-based producer, who deftly sprinkles the original’s melody with ethereal vocal samples before cranking out several rounds of mechanized sonic fury. The second remix, by French artist FetOo, has all the makings of a classic big-room complextro banger, with its cinematic opening rise and crunchy collection of distorted saw waves.