Eye of the Storm is the debut EP by bass music artist LAYZ, released through Bassweight Records. While this is the first EP for the LAYZ, she's certainly not new to the scene. Lost Lands and other mixes alongside a small handful of singles pad her back catalogue with enough cred for her to command respect in the scene. With just 3 tracks and coming in a hair over 10 minutes, Eye of the Storm keeps things brief but hectic.
INCOMING alongside RZRKT starts with a menacing SFX that continues under an equally menacing synth refrain. Different percussive elements fade in with quick hitting top percs skittering around with huge reverb tom hits adding tension to an already heightened mood. This really starts the EP out on a good foot as the mystique and energy really pulls you in, making you want to hear what comes next. The sound fades away as the track goes quiet before frantically speeding up with a snare roll and pulsing SFX before coming to a head with a titular vocal line delivering us into the drop. Layers on layers of bass following a strict riddim rhythm while chugging over a longer, slowly modulating bass release the tension earned in the intro. Let me tell you - it absolutely slaps. The mixing of the bass sounds and sub are impeccable, but I wish the snare would punch through just a bit more. The drop is gone too soon for my taste though, fading into the bridge after only 30 seconds. I will say I do very much enjoy that the main melody from the intro was inverted for this portion of the track. It adds even more eerie tension to an already masterfully played structure. The second drop manages to top the first, with the vowel basses under the main rhythm being an absolute treat to the ears.
SURGE hits the reset button at the top of the track, starting us out with a slow soundscape that would sound at home in a post-apocalyptic movie. A deep, continuous note carries us into the retro synth melody that speaks it's peace before being assimilated into a massive horn-like bass that blasts on and off in turn with a voice explaining the futility of attempting to escape the surge. About a minute in this is dropped as the track is driven into a frenzy of drums, vocal cuts, and FX swelling to a head before a double fake out into the drop. And being frank, this drop did not really hit me the first listen through. The wind-up right before the drop took the energy I felt from the electrifying intro and dispersed it right before the bass kicks in. Then the parts with the bass only on the off-notes felt a bit sparse. On subsequent listen throughs I haven't felt quite so negatively about this section, however. It gives the drop room to breathe and could serve as a great spot for double drops. The second drop had a build-up mid-drop that killed the energy for me yet again, but all in all the bass sounds good and the mixing is well done.
TEMPEST starts with a lightning crack and a storm soundscape, which feels like an incredibly fitting way to begin the final track on this EP. I thought the chanting choir also felt right at home and really added to the epicness that this song is trying to bring. I would love for the drums to punch through everything a bit more in this section - the incoming synth with the storm sounds combined with the choir really cause them to take a back seat. The now well-worn snare roll and SFX sweep combo bring us into the drop preceded by a high energy screamo-yell of "RISE IN THE TEMPEST". I really like the drop - it has a jilted, stop and start structure with vocal cuts interspersed and has a huge amount of energy and punch. Unfortunately this drop is even shorter than the first tracks, gracing us with only 20 seconds of drop. The bridge is a rehashing of the intro, but it works just as well the second time. The last drop of the EP slaps even harder than the first, before fading quickly and expertly back into the effects and tying a neat bow on this project.
Overall, this EP is a hit for me. While I have a couple bones to pick with it vis-à-vis drop length and some mixing nitpicks, this EP has clearly had love and attention poured into it, and the tracks themselves are bussin' and absolutely ripe for the mixin' and listenin'. I give this EP an 8/10.
SURGE hits the reset button at the top of the track, starting us out with a slow soundscape that would sound at home in a post-apocalyptic movie. A deep, continuous note carries us into the retro synth melody that speaks it's peace before being assimilated into a massive horn-like bass that blasts on and off in turn with a voice explaining the futility of attempting to escape the surge. About a minute in this is dropped as the track is driven into a frenzy of drums, vocal cuts, and FX swelling to a head before a double fake out into the drop. And being frank, this drop did not really hit me the first listen through. The wind-up right before the drop took the energy I felt from the electrifying intro and dispersed it right before the bass kicks in. Then the parts with the bass only on the off-notes felt a bit sparse. On subsequent listen throughs I haven't felt quite so negatively about this section, however. It gives the drop room to breathe and could serve as a great spot for double drops. The second drop had a build-up mid-drop that killed the energy for me yet again, but all in all the bass sounds good and the mixing is well done.
TEMPEST starts with a lightning crack and a storm soundscape, which feels like an incredibly fitting way to begin the final track on this EP. I thought the chanting choir also felt right at home and really added to the epicness that this song is trying to bring. I would love for the drums to punch through everything a bit more in this section - the incoming synth with the storm sounds combined with the choir really cause them to take a back seat. The now well-worn snare roll and SFX sweep combo bring us into the drop preceded by a high energy screamo-yell of "RISE IN THE TEMPEST". I really like the drop - it has a jilted, stop and start structure with vocal cuts interspersed and has a huge amount of energy and punch. Unfortunately this drop is even shorter than the first tracks, gracing us with only 20 seconds of drop. The bridge is a rehashing of the intro, but it works just as well the second time. The last drop of the EP slaps even harder than the first, before fading quickly and expertly back into the effects and tying a neat bow on this project.
Overall, this EP is a hit for me. While I have a couple bones to pick with it vis-à-vis drop length and some mixing nitpicks, this EP has clearly had love and attention poured into it, and the tracks themselves are bussin' and absolutely ripe for the mixin' and listenin'. I give this EP an 8/10.
FINAL VERDICT:
8/10
LAYZ also has a tour coming up later this year to support this release. To find more information on that head to her website at https://layz.us/
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