Mugic.us Exclusive EP Premiere & Review — PAST FORWARD EP by Odiax
Article by Jonas Loeb
As someone who has had Odiax on my radar for several years now, listening to his PAST FORWARD EP is getting to watch an artist hone in on their signature sound in real time. The release is a body of work that explores the space between riddim, 140, and other forms of dubstep — layering unexpected elements to find catchy flows that make the experience feel fresh in a genre that can be extremely crowded.
Let me put you on. Odiax is a Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) based dubstep artist who has played Paracosm Festival twice, and shared the stage supporting well-known projects including Infekt, Swando, Swampz, Arbityr, Zingara, Sippy, Bonnie n Clyde. He’s released original music on BASSCVLT, Suits & Snares, Riddim Network, with more on the way.
When asked how he describes his own sound, Odiax said he, “channels raw energy through pussy-popping drops and dick-smacking sound design, crafting immersive sets that shake souls and split atoms. From forest frequencies to warehouse warzones, I bring soundscapes that invite you to lose your mind and find your soul.”
After hearing PAST FORWARD now out on all platforms, I think I agree with that description. PAST FORWARD was released June 23, 2025. With any release this long (7 tracks, with total runtime of 19 minutes and 40 seconds), it takes a few listens and weeks to truly absorb as a package.
Click here to hear Odiax’s PAST FORWARD EP
Of this release, Odiax said “This EP is called “PAST FORWARD” because we should always focus on growing and moving forward leaving the things that don’t serve us in the past. I made a lot of these tracks over a year ago so I wanted to name it ‘PAST FORWARD’ because I’m evolving forward and growing from my past life experiences.”
Let’s dive into some of the tracks:
CURVY, the first song on the album comes out strong with dark grime vocals that build into a sidewinding riddim flow that just scratches the edge of your mind in the most tasteful way. Arguably my favorite on the album, when you hear this sound design you won’t be able to help bopping your head.
Second on the EP is FIGHT. A much more orchestral and epic intro . The sound design here is much darker yet still crunchy – like a sinister opponent approaching in the distance. Dispersed, pumping basslines and a massive clap emblematic of the riddim sound are cleverly layered with strings to make it feel like you’re grappling with an alien with just your bare hands in a movie.
MTN DEW is a fresh take on the 140 dubstep sound in Odiax’s sonic language. Catchy wobbles that never seem to sit in the same place are surrounded by glitchy ear candy that almost evokes the bubbly nature of the soda pop the song’s named after. The second drop changes the flow again, cranking up the bubbly basslines. I’d go as far to say a certain soda company should probably hop on putting this into one of their ads.
URWAY begins with a trappy melody that crescendoes into a Riddim song that evokes a familiar pumping frog style sound. When you hear it you’ll agree with the main vocal asking “WTF” at key moments.
SIMULATION takes a more digital sound, with dispersed lasers feel focused yet sporadic. Odiax takes these layers and masterfully layers them with more metallic and crispy elements to create catchy baseline phrases – an approach I believe is central to the Odiax sound after hearing this. If this song gets played live, it demands the visual lasers to match its sonic ones.
TWIST IT 8=D (ODIAX VIP) takes a classic online moment of a man shouting random stuff at an MMA fight — and hones it into a song. This V.I.P. (variation in production) again features pulsating, froglike basslines that shift and repeat, only to be met with humorous excerpts from the viral video at key moments. Arguably the most memorable song on the EP – this is the one I could see blowing up and being played by some of the biggest dubstep artists in America at festivals this summer.
The EP finishes strong with SLASHER – BLAIZE SLASHER – ODIAX REMIX. A brutal tune with drums that thwack the listener with every hit, this is a real chonker for the real heads. Pitched down vocals and metallics are peppered amidst this unholy cacophony, with pulsating riddim flows with flickering digital elements to boot.
CURVY has been added to the Bass Music to Ponder Your Orb To 2025 – Mugic.us Spotify Playlist