Shogun Audio @The End (20 April) Review

Friction and friends touched back down in the hallowed arches of The End for a second round of Shogun Audio - quickly establishing itself as one of the most exciting nights in D'n'B. Kicked off by the legendary Randall and followed by the rising State of Mind, Shogun demonstrated their reputation for quality line-ups, blending veterans and the freshest talent.

The intriguing prospect of Noisia b2b Break brought a set of filthy beats and rising basslines, punctuated with classics such as 'The Nine' and 'Medicine'. The talented SP:MC stepped up and inevitably raised the raver's paces. They were followed by Krust, who stepped up alongside Dynamite MC to present a crowd-pleasing Full Cycle-only set. It went down well with the youngers, but it couldn't keep me from gravitating towards the deep dubstep basslines emanating from a busy Room Two.

Shogun Audio owner Friction touched down at 2pm flanked by Dynamite and SP for a reliably exciting set. Using the 2 hours to journey through Jump Up, Liquid, Jungle and beyond, his mix showcased his dazzling technical ability amidst a slew of big dubplates. Tangibly stepping through the gears, the second hour really took off as Friction started pulling huge rewinds and squeezed 4 tunes into one particular mix (inc. High Contrast and 'Titan'). Messy business. Highlights included 'Dumpling Riddim'/'Planet Dust' and the floor-shaking 'Screamer Remix'/Dillinja's 'In The Grind' that cuminated in unanimous noise from the satisfied ravers.

The crowd was noticeably of the younger gurner variety, and sparser than the first event, which meant The End's trademark intimate buzz was replaced with a more rave vibe. More heads up than heads down? The Big Bad Bass king himself, Dillinja, stepped on for a classics set that tantalisingly begun with tracks off the legendary Cybertron LP. Unfortunately my weary legs could no longer sustain my hazy head and I embarked on the painful N29 dawn trek home, marking another solid Shogun outing.