Fire Torch Riddim – Hevs Records 2019

Fire Torch Riddim keeps things tight with just five cuts and four names on the mic, so it plays more like a focused 2019 dancehall selector than a crowded showcase. Hevs Records leans into a lean, percussive groove here, with the sort of sharp, low-slung pulse that leaves space for the vocals to cut through. Crisis gets the most runway with both a clean and raw version of “Stay Hungry Need It, ” and that dual take gives the project a little extra edge; Buss Head’s “Buss A Likkle Wine” and Caution Banga’s “Banga Bredda” keep the energy riding high. Shu Shu closes it out with “Never Switch, ” a fitting end for a riddim that stays trim and direct throughout.