The Dungeonmaster's Guide

Dieselboy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: HUMAN Imprint / System Recordings
• ASIN: B000228DY6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,284 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, October 4, 2004

By 

Jeff (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dungeonmaster's Guide (Audio CD)

I've read some of the other reviews here, and I've noticed quite a few made the comment that they are either new to D&B or to electronic music in general. So this review comes from a Drum & Bass Head, lets establish that right from the start.

I've followed Dieselboy pretty much from the start, and have been incredibly impressed with the mixing skills he's developed. Previously I would have to say System Upgrade was my personal favourite album of his, but thats all changed now!

This venture is relatively darker than his other projects to date, but is incredibly seamless in incorporating the storyline with the music. It feels like he's been doing this more years than in reality.

What I find incredibly refreshing is his nod to the "old" (remixing some BT, Sasha, Usual Suspects and even a Tiesto track), as well as a very subtle doff of the cap to the "new" - serving up a brilliant Concord Dawn remix. I'm a huge fan of Concord Dawn (check them out as well), so its nice to see a relatively "big name" US DJ use a track by a couple of Kiwis.

This reviewer gives the CD 5 out of 5 - a not to be missed album for both the hardcore D&B fan and budding fan alike - although for the later be warned the album really cranks, so be ready to drop everything and pound out some moves in the office/lounge/car!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the historic release of "the dungeonmaster's guide", May 18, 2004

By 

Mary Morris (laurel, maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dungeonmaster's Guide (Audio CD)

dieselboy fans will be proud to hear this double-cd set. "the dungeonmaster's guide" is the high point of dieselboy's creative prowress to date, his mixing skills and lyrical powers in peak form and shining.

the mix:

first of all, what a cool inspiration for dieselboy to harken back to something he loved as a kid - Dungeons & Dragons - and reenvision it through drum 'n' bass. dieselboy getting Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime of The Transformers cartoon, to narrate his fantasy script was a stroke of genius. the atmosphere of fantasy is captivating. (do we need an escape like this in these trying, harrowing times or what?)

also, dieselboy built on the "remix extravaganza" idea he had for his last mix CD, "projectHUMAN" (commissioning American producers to remix UK dnb classics, and UK and other producers to remix American tracks).

this time, he outdoes that by crossing genres - he gets some of the illest voices in dnb to remix some of the biggest voices outside of dnb - Sasha, Tiesto, Josh Wink and BT.

the mix begins with Peter Cullen authoritatively setting the stage for the dynamic imaginative adventure ahead, which kicks off with Cartridge's mini sci-fi epic "End of the World," goes deeper with Break's "Accelerate" and Kaos + Karl K + Jae Kennedy's "Soul on Fire."

Basic Operations' "White" signals that the trip has taken a scary turn, and when you're in the grip of Tech Itch's diabolical "The Hand," you realize it's too late, you're out of your depth, you're, happily, a goner.

Raiden's "Infection" (E-Sassin Remix) is an industrial stormer that reorients you to the different dimension you inhabit now, which segues into Sasha's "Immortal" (Kaos + Karl K Remix), a peak track, followed by another wicked peak track, Wink's "Evil Acid" (Gridlock Remix).

Teebee + Calyx's "Follow the Leader" draws you out of that danger, but then leads you into even darker, murkier terrain, BT's "Knowledge of Self" (Evol Intent Remix), which, if you make it out alive, hurls you into Dub Faction's "Flightpath."

Usual Suspects' "Doorway" (Gridlok & Echo Remix) grabs you by the neck and drops you into the violent whirlpool of Dom + Kemal's "Moulin Rouge" remixed by Dieselboy + Kaos + Karl K ... which propels you into the spell of the Sirens call of Tiesto's "Flight 643" remixed by Paul B + Subwave.

the mesmerization continues through Concord Dawn's "Take Me Away" (Ill Skillz Remix), then sucks you into the chunky metal vortex of Decorum's "Contrax" (Weapon Remix) - HEAVY! ROCK! ...

and then, completely spent, you find yourself, with a sense of relief, perhaps, gliding into the sweetness and light of Dumonde's "Human" (Ill Skillz Remix), and you can almost hear a young boy's voice call out "Look, mates, we've made it! See the castle ahead?"

what an adventure. it's like experiencing a Spielberg or Lucas fantasy flick. :)

the second cd is a showcase of tunes by HUMAN artists, presented with a brief cool sci-fi intro by dieselboy.

although this is an authentic underground masterpiece, i believe "The Dungeonmaster's Guide" is going to secure Dieselboy a place in the firmament of fine arts. conceptually, lyrically and technically brilliant, it's as good as it gets. he's done something really special here that will make the world aware of the addictive beauty and power of drum 'n' bass in a fresh new exhilarating way.

good for what ails you!

enjoy!

sincerely,
mary :)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fast and hard, but limited edition is just packaging, August 29, 2004

By 

Not My Real Name (Cambridge Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dungeonmaster's Guide (Audio CD)

First, about the limited edition:

I was a little disappointed, but this seems to differ from the normal edition only in the packaging. I haven't directly compared both editions, but the number of discs and tracks are the same. The box is nice, thick, textured cardboard, and includes a sticker (the CDs are in cardboard sleeves and what I assume is the standard booklet is also included). I'm not sure I'd have bought it, knowing it didn't include anything extra (even a CD3 w/ a couple videos would've made me feel better about getting it). But maybe you should get it if you go for that stuff, or especially if you want to support Dieselboy.


...and now onto the content:

Anyhow, I'm still going to give this 5 stars, because it's fast and hard, and it has some tracks (towards the end of disc 1) that I now consider among my dnb and jungle favorites.