Basscon Records Taps Rising Talent for 'Devotions: Chapter IV'

Basscon Records balances boundary-pushing hard dance records with excellent quality on their mission to enlighten the scene with Devotions: Chapter IV.

Basscon Records always seeks to set the scene on fire as the summer creeps up with a flurry of records on their compilation series, Devotions. Beginning in 2022, this series has always aimed to highlight the untapped talent in the hard dance along with established producers by providing a platform for out-of-the-box ideas. Today, Basscon Records has unleashed the next installment in the series with Devotions: Chapter IV!

While previous editions have exceeded expectations, this one is arguably one of the strongest, with a diverse palette of sounds and styles. The compilation begins with the signature sounds of hardstyle with records like “Brave” by TBR & Haarley, “One More Time” by Trye, and “Day of Reckoning” by Ephoric and ÆLINN. With the resurgence of euphoric hardstyle, Ephoric was a name I was elated to see, given his previous work and dedication to staying true to the melodic sounds.

Devotions: Chapter IV transports listeners to the raw side with an explosive record from Rawframez, “Sledgehammer.” Within this track, listeners will discover a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point banger emphasizing that less is more with a well-produced kickdrum and bone-chilling screeches. Meanwhile, RAYZEN completes the rawstyle portion with his interpretation of Swedish House Mafia and Knife Party’s iconic “Antidote,” opting to use brutal zaagkicks to flip the record on its back.

Basscon also enlisted the help of the most underrated hard dance producer in the States, Rollz Royce, as he teamed up with Tomsku for “Rave Culture.” Serving as his debut on the imprint, Rollz Royce showed no mercy as he delivered a speedy uptempo banger that highlights his carefree yet technically savvy production style, which pushes distorted kicks to their limit.

Discovery Project winner ALWZ SNNY lightened the mood with “Beautiful Day,” a feel-good tune with happy lyrics, bright melodies, and a touch of bouncy reverse bass. And VISHY brought hard dance energy with her hybrid record, “U&I.” Combining elements from the entirety of hard dance, like rawstyle, euro bounce, euphoric, and reverse bass, VISHY showcases the no-rules spirit of hard dance in one cohesive idea.

After dipping their toes into hard techno with events like Basscon Bullseye, the label tapped rising talent ANOLUXX for a high-octane record in “VORSICHT.” Listeners must proceed with caution as ANOLUXX came prepared to destroy speakers and rip dancefloors with this record. Finally, Domina unveils her latest record, “Turn Up,” which draws from the Melbourne bounce while giving it a techno twist.

With the latest installment of Devotions finally out, it’s clear that this remains my favorite annual Basscon release. One of my main criticisms of Devotions: Chapter III was that it felt rushed and thrown together despite the number of quality records and producers it highlighted. Admittedly, I was concerned that future editions would favor shock factor over quality, but Devotions: Chapter IV proved me wrong, balancing boundary-pushing bangers with top-notch talent.

In addition, this series has created its own identity as a dark horse on the label. At times, I forgot that I was listening to a Basscon release, which is a good problem to have, given the brand’s reputation of playing it safe. Although I enjoyed the majority of this edition, I hope future editions highlight the future sounds of hard dance versus current trends like Latin Hard Dance, USTEMPO, and more. That said, I enjoy seeing this series evolve, and I’m confident that each edition will be better than the last.

Listen to Devotions: Chapter IV on Spotify or your preferred platform, and follow Basscon on social media for more hard dance releases and shows.