Inferno Riddim – Shavaughn Records

Beeenie Man’s “Gal Want It Hard” gives Inferno Riddim its sharpest entry point, and it’s easy to hear why Shavaughn Records would build a 2006 dancehall set around that kind of rough-edged energy. The riddim keeps a tense, hot-wire pulse that suits Beenie Man’s patter, then opens the door for Bunji Garlin’s “Black Feel, ” which pulls the project toward a harder, more aggressive Caribbean cut without losing the dancefloor snap. Harry Toddler and Roundhead keep the pressure on with “Get Mad” and “Take Over, ” while Godfather Fresh’s “Mr. Wacky Tribute” adds a cheekier local touch in the middle of all that heat. It’s a compact crew, but the sequence gives the release a nice run of voices, plus an “Unknown – Gyal” cut tucked in at the end.