I have always found it difficult to find a word to describe John Roman’s techno productions, but as of the release of Petrified EP I feel as though I’ve finally nailed it – thunder. I was struck by this word upon listening to ‘Chimaera’, the third track on the EP, which features easily the most thunderous kick I’ve heard in some time. John Roman has always gone for a less is more approach to techno, and because of his intimate production knowledge the style works brilliantly. The kick drums in each track are masterfully crafted and sit brilliantly within the mix. While the kick is arguably the most important piece of the dance music puzzle, some artists simply don’t pay it enough attention, and John Roman is not one of these artists. Another important piece of the puzzle is sample choice, and he most certainly doesn’t skimp on that department either. On ‘St. Hood’, a haunting classical piece serves as a surprisingly interesting juxtaposition to the dub/dancehall vocal and minimal percussive techno. The title track ‘Petrified’ features cool chopping of the classic house style vocals that again works brilliantly with the percussion driven dance John Roman is known for.

All in all, John Roman has once again proven he is a driving force in the current techno climate. His tracks are arranged wonderfully and their heaviness should come as no surprise.