Powerhouse Riddim – Reality Shock Records

From Bristol’s Reality Shock camp, Powerhouse Riddim keeps the focus tight with a live-sounding roots cut that sits somewhere between heavyweight steppers and straight reggae bounce. The Upper Cut Band frame the project with a “Powerhouse Medley” and a dub version, while Luciano’s “Bear Jah Fruit” gives the riddim its most memorable hook, all uplift and conviction. Solo Banton and Lyrical keep the energy moving on “I Can Hear” and “Never Give Up, ” leaning into conscious talk over a warm, rolling groove rather than anything rushed or flashy. It’s a small, five-track set, but that economy suits the era it came from: mid-2010s roots with enough bass pressure for sound systems and enough songcraft to hold up beyond the instrumental.