In the past year, Spentshell have been constantly putting out quality releases from label stalwarts GHSTLY XVII, Ruby Black, and of course, label mainman Flowdan, building up a big buzz in the grime world and beyond with fans eager to devour each one. The latest release on the label is Welcome To Spentshell, a six track EP that showcases the Spentshell artists alongside label affiliates and allies inckuding Riko Dan, Irah, Discarda and Nasty Jack.
With the label hosting a series of intimate and defiantly raw live showcases late last year that brought and demonstrated fully the energy that grime is known for, this collection of tracks acts as the studio version of that energy with every track on point and the artists involved all producing lyrical and audio fire constantly.
The menacing rhythm of opening track Water sets the tone from the get go as Flowdans unmistakable tone takes centre stage over a forboding beat with YGGs PK running riot with some quickfire bars, which gets things off to a sureshot start. War Mode mercilessly ups the energy with a hard and anthemic Filthy Gears beat and Saint P from YGG kicking things off with his confident and witty bars before Irah completely and relentlessly destroys the track with an immense display and Discarda brilliantly amps things up for the finish, sounding focussed with his verses and hyped up flow.
On Sight introduces GHSTLY XXVII, who flexes his impressive lyrical muscle and definitely holds his own alongside the unholy trio of Flowdan, Riko Dan and Nasty Jack, and this results in this undeniably huge sounding track. Rigamortis is just as energetic as War Mode, with Filthy Gears again behind the boards and the beat allows the three MCs from the previous track minus Nasty Jack to cause some serious damage throughout the track.
Flowdan and GHSTLY return again on the catchy and lyrical Certified alongside the legend that is Meridian man Bossman Birdie and The Square star Blakie with the quartet demonstrating a formidable series of verses over a stuttering beat. Welcome To Spentshell concludes with No Days Off with the labels head honcho leading the track with his powerful verses. Flowdan lets loose as only he can as GHSTLY pops up to show how talented he is and undoubtedly a grime star in the present and for the future before Flowdan fittingly comes back to finish things off on a high and dominates the beat as he does best.
Welcome to Spentshell is a serious statement of intent, with everyone associated with it here bringing you raw and unadulterated grime with all the artists involved on point throughout. As Flowdan spits on Water “Whenever Spentshell are in the building, we run the place like water” and you can count on them doing exactly that for a long time coming. This is just the beginning.