In a little more than a year, the Brooklyn-based combo of beat-maker/producer Double Tiger and DJ Q-Mastah has established itself as one of the pillars of the U.S. underground bass music scene. Through their record label and iconic 15,000-watt, handcrafted wooden speaker stack dubbed the “Tower of Sound”, they have forged a reputation as the leading crew behind the resurgence and development of dub reggae and sound system culture in America.

“The idea behind both the label and sound system is to help bridge the gap between the traditional Jamaican roots of sound system culture – down to hand-crafting your own speakers – and its growing modern diaspora manifested most evidently in the rise of bass music culture around the world.” [FACT Magazine]

Restoring the centrality of sound system culture in the evolution of contemporary bass music is an explicit goal of the duo. By connecting the dots between old and new, Battle Cry stands as a metaphor and manifesto for this ambition. The 10-track LP takes the listener on a musical journey through the genre-bending contours of dub, reggae and electronic music with each track adding its own twist to the overall story. Taking inspiration from the multifaceted dimensions of Brooklyn, Battle Cry is dark and gritty yet upbeat and, at times, soulful. Despite this dichotomy of sounds and styles, each track is connected by the duo’s affinity for righteous horn lines, trance-inducing dub echoes and powerful skanks underpinned by heavy lines of pulsating bass. Battle Cry was made deliberately for the sound system and will most likely sound better on one!

“Brooklyn just might be on the verge of a new halcyon age for sound. So please, let’s put away those awful earbuds and computer speakers, and drown our ears in bass.” [Red Bull Music Academy NYC]

To support its cause, Tour de Force has enlisted an all-star cast of vocalists from around the world, including legendary Jamaican tenor Luciano on “Where Do We Go Wrong” and UK-based emcee Brother Culture with his trademark spitfire delivery on “Roots Lyrics.” Battle Cry also features Brooklyn’s own Jahdan Blakkamoore on the summer themed “Pool Party” and Jay Spaker on both “Old Time Love” and the militant “A Little Bit More.”  Tour de Force’s affection for Jamaican musical heritage is evident as they revamp timeless classics: King Jammy’s digital “Sleng Teng” riddim on “Pool Party,” the ethereal “Satta Massagana” on the explosive “Warmongers” and Dennis Brown’s anthemic “Promised Land” theme on the album’s title track “Battle Cry.”

”Inspired by their very impressive and iconic 15,000W custom-built “Tower of Sound”, TDF work relentlessly to champion the culture and craft of Sound Systems in New York and beyond.” [Lodown Magazine]

Battle Cry will be available on vinyl and digital formats on February 25. To support the release, Tour de Force will embark on a four-country, six-city tour with Brother Culture. The tour kicks off in Washington D.C. on March 5. Visitwww.dub-stuy.com for more detail and the full list of tour cities.