Drum & Bass

There are few drum & bass labels that can boast a legacy as concrete as that of Metalheadz. There are bigger ones, sure — with more releases or events, more awards or mainstream popularity — but when it comes to seminal cuts, uncompromising sound and respect throughout the scene, it’s hard to think of a true rival. It’s for the Headz, afterall.

At the helm as label manager is Dispatch Recordings founder Ant TC1. He recalls first encountering the label when he was just 15 years old. “I remember personally hearing tunes like Peshay's ‘Psychosis’ and then follow on material from the likes of Wax Doctor, Doc Scott, etc., and thinking there's something about this label that's shaping an angle in this music that I've never know, felt or heard,” he tells DJ Mag.

Working for the label though it’s natural for Ant to be enthusiastic; why, however, does he think the label has had such an enduring impact on the wider scene? “Because it was responsible for injecting so many flavours into d&b that were very daring and never really heard before,” he says. “At its core it gave the artists a place that felt like home to be able to confidently (or at least more confidently) express themselves as musicians.”