After revisiting their roots with 2019s RTRN II JUNGLE, an accompanying Fabric mix, and tour dates surrounding them, British dance duo Chase & Status resumed the guest-heavy, multi-genre format of their highest-charting albums. What Came Before, their sixth studio full-length, is a mixture of rave throwbacks, radio-friendly dance-pop, and the toughness of U.K. drill, all with drumnbass futurism as its guiding light. Opener "Dont Be Scared" spikes dubstep-tempo beats with rave stabs, bubbling percussion, and squelching acid, along with patient vocals by frequent collaborator Takura, who ends up sounding like Splinter, the sagely rat from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Following track "Go" leans closer to the sound of big beat-era Prodigy, with shuffling percussion and commanding synths leading the charge. The album dives into drumnbass with "Censor," which features Popcaans smoother singing as well as IRAHs deep baritone ragga verses. "Run Up" is a visionary fusion of U.K. drill and hardcore breaks, with Unknown Ts hyped-up vocals perfectly complementing the brash, booming bass. "When It Rains" is more dramatic, with BackRoad Gee delivering blunt street scenes over faint police sirens, then elevating to a heart-racing rhythm with a brassy, explosive bass tone.These forays into drill are easily the most impressive moments on What Came Before. Aside from the aforementioned tracks, theres a handful of enjoyable instrumentals throughout the album. The perky "5am" is the most celebratory of these, while "Consciousness" is a slightly jazzy ambient rinse-out, and "Forgive Dark" opens like something from Goldies Timeless before progressing through glimmering, minimalist synth patterns and sharp, complex breaks. ~ Paul Simpson

Rovi