Unchained launches into 2020 with it’s first multi-artist compilation celebrating its ethos and vision for edge-driven sound. Forming part of a new annual release series, observing the Chinese lunar calendar, “The Year of The Rat” compilation brings together some of our favourite producers on the label and welcomes some gifted new members into the Unchained family from various corners of the globe – including China, Europe, the UK, the States, Australia and Canada.

UK based artists include HLZ, with a rare foray into halftime banger land, ROHAAN, delivering his own brand of trappy hybrid DNB and Bristolian beat smith HØST, with an eclectic pulse-driven masterpiece best described as a fusion of German EBM, Science Fiction and minimal Drum’n’Bass. Coming out of China, we have two of our most prodigious talents, 3ASIC and RADIAX, who represent the ever-evolving vein of Bass spreading through the region and for which we are proud to be nurturing on the label in the years ahead. Stateside, DAVE OWEN, ROOT FOR THE VILLIAN and QUENTIN HIATUS as well as Canada’s HOMESICK bring tasteful contributions spanning 160, ghetto-halftime and juke jungle. Each, on their own, exemplifying the wonderful permutations of up-tempo electronic being incubated in their respective stomping grounds. Then, Italian Trio FRACTALE collaborating with Australian outfit V O E, Dutch export SUBP YAO and Austria’s SENTIC CYCLE all step up, showcasing their ability to fuse rhythm, grit and aesthetics into unique low-end half-step gems.

To round off the release, Unchained co-founders, LYNDON JARR and DANIEL POWER release their first collaboration on the label – a fusion of dark funk, minimal halftime and charged atmospherics.

Each year we look forward to celebrating the label’s code of re-setting the ceiling on Bass music with a passion for the dance-floor moving traditions of Drum’n’Bass.
We hope you enjoy out first compilation and release for 2020.