Veteran producer Rusko makes his long-awaited Bassrush Records debut with “Mantis Fist,” a bold new entry in his evolving drum and bass catalog. Known for shaping the early dubstep movement, the Leeds-born artist continues to chart new ground—this time, with a track that fuses cinematic tension and precision-engineered sound design into a high-impact listening experience.
Listen here : https://bassrush.ffm.to/mantisfist
“Mantis Fist” channels cinematic tension into a percussive onslaught. Anchored by a classic Kung Fu vocal hook, the track opens with suspense before detonating into a barrage of barking synths, lurching rhythms, and snarling low-end textures. Every element moves with intent—from coiled breakbeats to dissonant melodic accents—walking a fine line between chaos and control. Rusko shapes tension into texture, using each sonic layer to push the track into deeper, stranger territory.
Touching on the creative direction he took when formulating his new single, Rusko says, “This track came to life from the urge to dive deeper into my passion for drum and bass. After many years of playing with different sounds, styles, and moods, this project captures the essence of what the last year has felt like for me as Rusko.”
A pioneer of dubstep’s original wave, Rusko has spent the last few years bending drum and bass into new shapes. The release builds on the momentum of his ‘1 MAN ARMY’ EP, which powered a 15-date North American tour with stops at Soundcheck DC, Exchange LA, The Midway SF, and more. After standout sets at Bloom Nightclub, a B2B with Caspa at EDC Las Vegas, and a recent appearance at Liquicity, Rusko is set to continue his festival run with upcoming performances at Boomtown Fair, Dirtybird CampINN, and Breakaway, followed by a Canadian tour leg this fall.
A foundational force in electronic music, Rusko has collaborated with M.I.A., Sub Focus, Caspa, and Lady Gaga, with releases that helped bring dubstep and bass music to a global stage. His productions have earned consistent support from BBC Radio 1, Rinse FM, SiriusXM, and Radio Metro, reinforcing a reputation built not just on innovation, but lasting impact.
As Bassrush Records continues to spotlight forward-thinking talent, “Mantis Fist” arrives as a fitting statement from one of the scene’s most enduring voices. Rusko approaches drum and bass with surgical precision, delivering a release that commands attention and signals more to come.
Rusko’s new single “Mantis Fist” is available on all platforms via Bassrush Records.
More About Rusko
A foundational architect of dubstep’s first global wave, Rusko helped turn a genre once rooted in London’s underground into a worldwide phenomenon — and he did it with a grin, a wobble, and absolutely no regard for the rules. Born in Leeds and raised on rave culture, Rusko emerged in the late 2000s as a singular force with the smash single “Cockney Thug,” igniting dance floors and solidifying the wobble bass as an international signature. Teaming up with fellow innovator Caspa, Rusko co-piloted the iconic Fabriclive 37 mix in 2007 — a release now recognized as a defining moment in dance music history. With landmark tracks like “Woo Boost,” “Hold On” (featuring Amber Coffman), and the genre-blurring albums O.M.G.! and SONGS, he built a sound that was at once heavy and euphoric — rave music for the mischief-makers. A true studio chameleon, Rusko’s production credits include the majority of M.I.A.’s third album MAYA, and official remixes for Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, and Kid Sister. He was also the first dubstep artist to break onto U.S. radio with his single “Cali Anthem.” From the world’s biggest festival stages — Coachella, Ultra, EDC, Lollapalooza, and beyond — to underground sweatboxes across four continents, Rusko has always brought an infectious energy that refuses to be boxed in. His ethos? Make music that hits hard, feels good, and flips expectations on their head. More than a decade in, Rusko remains a genre-bending icon — as joyful as he is raw, as experimental as he is essential. Whether through seismic basslines, rave piano vamps, or reggae-laced grooves, Rusko continues to move bodies and blow minds with every beat.
More About Bassrush Records
Built around the legacy it has created since its earliest days in the underground back in 2002, Bassrush has established itself as a pillar within the bass music scene. Over the years, the crew has cultivated a movement that has taken on many forms, from its massive festival stages around the world to their more intimate nights on the dancefloor. In 2016, Bassrush Records materialized as a means to take their barrier-breaking mentality into the label world, pushing boundaries in dubstep, trap, drum & bass, and everything in between. With a catalog that banks on both heavyweights and up-and-coming talent alike, Bassrush Records has put its stamp on artists including Subtronics, Caspa, REAPER, Borgore, Infekt, Jon Casey, Hekler, Svdden Death, Moody Good, Zeke Beats, Jantsen, Eliminate, Turno, Kompany, RIOT TEN, ATLiens, Hamdi, AHEE, LAYZ, YDG, Jessica Audiffred, HEYZ, and more.