Kasra and Samurai Breaks Unleash the Piledrivers Via ‘Cobalt’ EP

The two sonic wizards unite for their debut outing, stepping up with a full EP.

There’s an old paradox about an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, but here, there’s no resistance, only acceleration. When two artists like Kasra and Samurai Breaks collide, both operating as creative forces in constant motion, the outcome is a full-blown ignition. So what do the pair do with such a high-voltage sonic chemistry? They get in the studio and push it to its limits. That’s exactly what’s happened with the release of the three-track ‘Cobalt‘ EP.

This unique pairing naturally finds its anchor on Kasra’s Critical Music, a label that has spent over two decades serving as the architectural blueprint for the drum & bass underground’s most forward-thinking sounds. Following the release of a single on the imprint towards the end of 2025, Samurai Breaks returns with intensified momentum to join forces with the label’s founder for a comprehensive exploration of their shared musical DNA.

Kasra’s reputation has long been his unparalleled ability to distill drum & bass down to its most essential elements: deep, hypnotic, and often shadowy rollers that prioritize groove over anything else. Recently, though, there’s been a subtle but noticeable shift. Releases like ‘Hydrogen’ and ‘Intuition’ with Simula have seen him lean into more textural territories, where jungle influences, washed-out atmospheres, and looser rhythmic frameworks begin to seep into his traditionally precise sound design.

This shift toward “washy” textures and breakbeat-heavy structures creates a perfect intersection with Samurai Breaks, whose rise as a figurehead of the modern jungle movement has been defined by his knack for injecting raw, kinetic energy into sophisticated sound design. Where Kasra brings control and clarity, Samurai Breaks introduces volatility and movement, and ‘Cobalt’ thrives in that intersection.

The opener, ‘EZ’ on the ‘Cobalt’ EP, doesn’t waste time exhibiting the convergence we’re talking about. The tune carries an aggressive groove that prioritizes the stripped-back, percussive pressure Samurai Breaks is known for. Then comes Kasra’s weighty and measured minimalism that meets the former’s rave-rooted chaos to create a deceptively simple offering, but one that hits with surgical precision.

Up next is the title that leans into Kasra’s and Samurai Breaks’ territories with its slowly releasing haunting sonics. It’s where the duo’s styles fully meld, featuring a cold, industrial atmosphere punctuated by Samurai Breaks’ signature frenetic drum fills. Closing the ‘Cobalt’ EP is ‘Straight From The T O P,’ featuring MC Rage with a classic sound system energy with an explosive fusion of jungle heritage and modern sound design. It’s grimey, it’s urgent, and the vocal presence adds a layer of hype and authority that rounds out the EP’s underground credentials.

The EP fascinatingly sees both Kasra and Samurai Breaks actively amplify their identities and create a meeting point where deep, rolling minimalism collides with fractured jungle energy. It’s a testament to Kasra and the enduring power of Critical Music as a platform for evolution, proving that even after twenty years, the label remains one of bass music’s primary laboratories.

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