Ants Nest Riddim – Royalty Recordz

Ants Nest Riddim comes in fast and hard, a 2019 soca set from Royalty Recordz and 4th Dimension Productions that leans into the kind of high-energy, carnival-ready pace you’d expect from a mid-year release. The lineup is compact but lively, with Luni Spark, Electrify and Boyzie setting the tone on “We Doh Take Programme, ” then Luta returning twice with “Goontaz” before Flanka, D’Lanlord, Moralis and Marlo each take their turn across the riddim. The instrumental keeps the arrangement tight and propulsive, and the production has that sharp, percussive feel that leaves room for the vocals to cut through. If there’s a tune that hangs around after the first pass, it’s Marlo’s “Crew Anthem, ” but Flanka’s “Carnival Warriors” is the one that really locks into the season’s party pressure.