Perc Trax Vinyl & CDs

Review: The more nerdy out there will know that Keepsakes has featured on Perc Trax before having contributed to the Forever 2 various artists' release back in 2020, but now he makes his full debut with this fierce solo EP. 'Scene Analysis' is just that, a heavyweight takedown of dance music bullshit with no-frills drums and rattling percussion all topped off with a dark monologue. Label head Perc remixes and makes things even more caustic and ear-splitting, then 'Industry Anthem' does manic things with the word 'money' over taught, twanging synths and slamming drums. 'Pray For Hype' is the final potent offering, again with brash sounds and rusty textures, hard drums and no-nonsense de-humanised vocals.

Review: UK techno punk Perc was making hard techno way before it became as trendy as it is now. His Perc Trax is a great reserve of such sounds and now he adds to that with another eye-wateringly raw and direct new outing with a bunch of high-octane remixes. Ophidian kicks off with brutal drum funk and caustic synths, Vera Grace fires all sorts of synths across the face of a rooted, rolling low end and Acerbic brings video game sound effects and hammering drum funk. There is no let up with Zisko Ceremonial's closer which is fast-paced and urgent.

Review: Hard techno bastion Perc has invited a bunch of peers to remix some of his own tackle for his Perc Trax label and the results are as abrasive and arresting as you might expect. 'Full Goblin (Mac Declos remix)' is a fast-paced cut with industrial decay and growling machines keeping you on edge, Peder Mannerfelt remixes 'Static' into mechanical, electro-tech loops with a jarring but beautiful harp loop up top. 'UK Style' gets a Million remix that takes the drums into overdrive and last of all is the big, brash techno throb of a Bad Boy Pete remix lit up with ravey stabs.

Review: Perc Trax has long been excelling at caustic and industrial-tinged, white-knuckle techno excursions. Former 3 is another case in point as various artists come together to nail you to the floor of a gritty warehouse. The boss himself, Perc, appears with Million on the squealing, blistering workout that is 'Rotopod' while EAS brings wild video game soundtrack madness to his intense 'Ryu Acid.' Add in linear bangers from Somniac One with 'Junkyard Shift' and Exos's gabber-tinged, flat-footed stomper 'Warlion' and you have an absolutely monster EP of techno.