Rusko returns with highly anticipated new EP, ‘Has Made Five More Songs’
After a brief bout with cancer last year, British dubstep pioneer Rusko, real name Chris Mercer, is back in full force. His new EP, aptly titled Has Made Five More Songs, builds on Rusko’s previously released single, “Hot,” with four fresh tracks that create a unique, restorative new story around his sonic legacy.
2007 was the year Caspa and Rusko cemented themselves as flag-bearers of the contemporary dubstep sound that went on to dominate the world. Rusko’s new EP, out now on Flux Pavilion‘s Circus Records, is the current incarnation of this sound — taking classical dub, two-step, and grime, and flipping it on its head.
From the reggae/jungle-infused break beat stylings of “Walalangleng,” to the low-tempo whomps of “Mind The Gap,” to the beautifully laid-back melodies of “High” and “Emotional,” the EP provides a full survey of dubstep’s evolution from its emergence as an offshoot of UK garage to the present. This is his heart on a sleeve — a pivotal, defining time for Rusko in 2018.
In addition to his inspired new musical package, Rusko is also slated for some premium time slots on a couple of noteworthy, dub-heavy events. The dubstep legend will join Zeds Dead later this summer at their fifth annual Dead Rocks event at Red Rocks Amphitheater as well as Excision‘s Lost Lands festival in September.