Even though most of it is just techno and house, Apashe does brings the good, the bad, and the ugly to his 2023 album "Antagonist". Note: I've linked the Part 2, because it also contains the tracks from Part 1.
King - Hairitage Remix - Has everything that makes the original "King" good, and improves upon them. The low breakbeat gives it pacing and intensity; Busta Rhymes' immaculate verses are untouched; and the final DnB drop is straight fire. A little short, but Hairitage might have actually made an improvement to the original tune. (93/100)
Fracture - Apashe VIP - Just as dirty as the original "Fracture", with the tempo increased a little to incorporate some pretty nasty DnB production. The classical elements are still there, the big kicks are there, and they even made a subtle adjustment to the lyrics, which is a great detail.(90/100)
Human - Vladimir Cauchemar Remix - Seemingly normal remix that suddenly gets intense real fast, building to a slamming techno drop with some pretty solid, calculated production, and strong kicks. It is quite short at just 2:19 compared to the 4 minutes of the original, but punchy enough to be good.(89/100)
Rise at Nightfall - YMIR Remix - The improvement to the length is appreciated, and YMIR's grand production adds a much-needed element to the original "Rise at Nightfall". The instrumental drop is thick, distorted, and satisfying, and YMIR even chips in with his own vocal after the first drop. The second drop, meanwhile, is absolutely massive techno kicks, just raw techno kicks. (88/100)
Catch Me - Leblanc Remix - One of the cleaner tech tracks on the package, with astounding progression. True, it doesn't have much else going for it, but honestly, the progression is all it needs. Kind of cinematic, even if it doesn't have the climaxes the original does.(86/100)
Revenge of the Orchestra - INFEKT Remix - INFEKT adlibs have their little charm to them. Thankfully, he doesn't mess with Magugu's verse much, nor does he mess with the core lead (both of which were originally amazing), and he's brought his minimal, emptier mix to this track. The drops especially sound weird, but honestly, I dig it.(86/100)
Human - RayJhin Remix - Pretty simple adjustments, making the sub-bass stronger in the offdrops and adding a nice heavy section (which slaps) to the drops, complete with a trap-centered second drop. Effective remix.(85/100)
Contraband - Rival Remix - The original "Contraband" is practically untouchable, but as the only remix of it in this compilation, Rival does a solid enough job, bringing his own brand of classical fusion. He's kept the punchy lead-in, but pivoted the drop to a banging dubstep/breakbeat (plus a lovely DnB second drop). Slightly overblown, but I am a fan.(84/100)
Lost In Mumbai - Synergy Remix - Simplistic, gritty neurofunk rehash of the original "Lost In Mumbai", which was a lot more melodic. But I think the low bassline does drive the track a lot, and even if it sacrifices some emotion, it still kind of goes.(84/100)
Fracture - Silk Noir Remix - This feels like what a bass house Apashe remix should be. It's kind of grand, with the slowed vocal and the spacious mixing, and the bass house itself is smooth.(83/100)
Devil May Cry - MR TOUTE LE MONDE Remix - The only "Devil May Cry" remix is dark techno, with a lead that sounds weirdly like the BBC theme tune. It also adds lyrics, and I do quite like it. Even if they sound unintelligible to me. But that's a minor detail.(83/100)
Fracture - Asdek Remix - It's nothing special really, just a simple bass house tune with some great abrasive bridges. Asdek also keeps the choir elements from the original, elements which were dropped by a lot of other remixes but definitely deserve a place in the track.(82/100)
Kryptonite - One True God Remix - Not sure how I feel about some of the sampling, but the production overall is very nice: brooding, full midtempo. It's not crazy, but the midtempo suits the mood of "Kryptonite" nicely.(80/100)
Lost In Mumbai - IMANU Remix - Clean progressive house remix with a creative rhythm change. IMANU doing IMANU things.(80/100)
Kryptonite - Buunshin Remix - Some very clean progressive production with a prominent lead. It's very smooth, very clean, but it doesn't quite have the flair that would make it interesting, especially with so many other remixes using a similar style.(79/100)
Human - OVERWERK Remix - A considerably longer take on "Human" that relies heavily on its progression and synthwork. The former excels—especially in the long intro buildup—but unfortunately the latter kind of offsets the mood of the track a little, to me, because it doesn't really mesh with Wasiu's rap. Pretty cool though.(77/100)
RIP - EDDIE Remix - Keeps the lead melody quite nicely, with a richer, bassier first drop and a big techno switchup for the second drop. This remix would be considerably higher if it wasn't for the final drop, which is overly messy briddim. Props for variety, but that final drop is not it.(77/100)
RIP - Vendex Remix - Mad techno track that straight up sounds like a horde of cavalry went and trampled all over the main track, because after the first drop it sounds completely different. Kind of... kind of cool, though.(72/100)
Fracture - Automhate Remix - Had the roots of a good remix—some pretty nasty bass house (Automhate did bass house???) ideas that work well with "Fracture", almost funky at times—but I can't say I like some of the production choices, it all feels a little overdone, and the 200mph vocals don't help. But it could be worse.(70/100)
Human - CHYL Remix - Love CHYL, but I feel like she tried to do a little too much with this remix. The speed house is high-octane and gritty but its heaviness feels like it strips away a lot of the charm the original had. Sadly, the second drop is exactly the same.(69/100)
Catch Me - Habstrakt Remix - The overdone trickly sound before the drops is very Habstrakt, and also very funny because it sounds utterly out of place. Not huge on how he killed the lead melody, and also how he killed the buildups (very tragic deaths); though the bass house production is nice, it doesn't really make up for it. With Habstrakt on "Catch Me", I figured it would go really well or really badly, but somehow it's landed in between the two.(67/100)
Menace - josh pan Remix - Unfortunately I still don't like the vocal style, even if I still like the vocal hook. But josh pan does well with whatever he's got. Not a terrible remix, just doesn't do enough for me to start liking it.(66/100)
Gasoline - Soltan Remix - Soltan does not mess around with any theatrics, he just goes straight to blasting dubstep in the drops. Possibly metallic, possibly abrasive, definitely chaotic and impactful, but not really my thing unfortunately, because it feels like it takes away the Indian flair the original had (particularly in Raga's rap).(66/100)
King - A Hundred Drums Remix - The intro is way too abrupt, and I really don't like the change of rhythm A Hundred Drums made to Busta Rhyme's rap. The sound design is pretty slick though, and I like the idea of the 'queen' vocal samples, even if I find the execution of them a little irritating. Enjoyed the creativity, not the execution.(60/100)
Revenge of the Orchestra - Stooki Sound Remix - This remix is so... off... to me. It's not even badly produced, it just straight up murders everything the original had going for it. The drops are weirdly compressed, and I'm not huge on the vocal chops in them—oh, also, the lead is gone, which irks me.(58/100)
Revenge of the Orchestra - Motez Remix - I can't with this remix, genuinely. The vocal effect makes the vocals sound like a baby, which is downright ridiculous, and even more ridiculous when the original is pidgin rap. The drops aren't better either, wielding their godforsaken fast-paced vocal chops. All of the gravitas the original had is completely reversed. Honestly, hilarious remix, but never again.(48/100)
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