Submitted By: nicknack

Genre: Jungle / Drum and Bass

Date of Set: Oct 2005

Filesize: 78.18 MB

Total Downloads: 12

Black Sun Empire represent the finest in dark and techy dancefloor drum and bass. Since bursting onto the scene back in 2000, they’ve continued to develop their own unique style and sound, releasing numerous singles as well as two full-length LPs and establishing themselves as leaders in the field. With their awesome DJ skills and inspirational productions, Black Sun Empire have reached far beyond their native Holland and even Europe. They’ve toured the world over, playing dates in the USA, UK, Russia, Korea, Australia and New Zealand to name but a few, and continue to build on their growing reputation as some of the most exciting and consistent performers around. Having presented their third album ‘Endangered Species,’ Black Sun Empire have set the pace again in 2007 and look set for another hectic year in 2008.

Borne of brothers Milan and Micha Heyboer along with René Verdult, Black Sun Empire is a DJ/producer collective based in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Since first making music together in 1993, the trio experimented with various styles until they found their musical direction around 1997 and formed Black Sun Empire. Heavily influenced by releases from the darker labels such as No U Turn, Prototype and Virus, they took the techstep drum and bass blueprint and set out to make a new sound of their own.

With a sound that was fresh, new and progressive, their early demos caught the ears of several well-established labels. Their debut release came courtesy of Rotterdam based label Piruh in 1999 with the tracks ‘Skin Deep’ and ‘Voltage’ and further release on Piruh and another Dutch imprint, DJ Esta’s “A New Dawn”, soon followed. It wasn’t long, however, before their technically proficient productions came to the attention of Trace, the long-serving DJ and techstep pioneer, and he invited Black Sun Empire to compose a remix for his label DSCi4. They took on the classic ‘Mutant Jazz’, first remixed by Trace himself as Rollers Instinct in 1995, and provided a remix of truly devastating proportions that announced Black Sun Empire on the UK and indeed the world scene.

Further release on DSCi4 came and were followed by remixes for SKC and Technical Itch before, in 2002, the boys decided to start a label of their own. Set up as an outlet for their increasing body of work, Black Sun Empire Recordings became home for their own productions as well as collaborations with other like-minded artists. Their first album ‘Driving Insane’ was released in 2004 to critical acclaim and featured work with the collective talents of Concord Dawn and Stu from Cause 4 Concern alongside their own material. Deft, dynamic, devastating and deranged the album announced that the day of the Dutch was dawning. Supported by a mix cd, it showcased their sound in style and coincided with a highly successful world tour, taking in dates across the UK, Europe, USA and Australia.

Motivated by the massive response they had received, the boys followed up with their second long-player, ‘Cruel and Unusual’, in 2005. Raising the banner of the Black Sun Empire even higher than before, the LP featured further collaborative work with yet more high-profile artists including Noisia, Corrupt Souls and Kemal. Feeling the urge to satisfy other sides of their collective psyche, a sister label was established in the form of ‘oBSEssions’. Designed to cater for atmospheric, unusual and funky flavours, this label is certainly no lightweight nd proven itself as one to watch with releases from the likes of Chris SU, Noisia and SKC so far alongside newer names.

Never losing touch with their roots, Black Sun Empire continue to promote their bi-monthly event ‘Blackout’ in their home town of Utrecht. This well-established event has attracted some of the best in DJ talent from across the globe and regularly draws crowds of up to 1,000 people. As resident djs, Black Sun Empire consistently captivate the crowds by mixing their freshest material together with live elements to bring an edge to their sets.

Having played over 100 gigs in two consecutive years, the boys have proved they’ve lost none of their hunger to reach new crowds and hit the road again with an extended tour for their latest LP, ‘Endangered Species’. This time it’s a team effort and the album features some of the finest producers to be found in the scene at the moment. With input from BSE, Noisia, Bad Robot, Chris SU, Jade, State Of Mind, D.Kay, Optiv, Audio and more the album is split acorss three 2x12” EPs, the first of which hit shelves late last year, and the second was released in Spring 2007. The third and final installment of the series followed in October alongside a double-cd album. You can regulalry catch them at dates across the USA, all over Europe and the UK, Russia, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand but be warned, as their sound is infectious - once you’ve basked in the glory of the Black Sun, you won’t look back!

http://www.esp-international.co.uk/

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