Homemade Weapons: Biography, Discography and More | EDM Encyclopedia

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Introduction

Homemade Weapons is a drum and bass producer based in the United States, active from 2013 to the present day. Emerging in the early 2010s, the artist quickly established a foothold within the competitive underground electronic music circuit, delivering a steady stream of dark, technically precise records. Operating within a genre historically dominated by UK producers, Homemade Weapons represents the drive stateside to push drum and bass forward.

The project’s debut release arrived in 2013, setting a relentless pace that would define the next six years of output. From that initial offering, the artist built a catalog characterized by stark atmospheres and aggressive beat construction. Rather than chasing mainstream trends or pop crossover appeal, Homemade Weapons maintained a sharp sub focus on club-ready constructions designed for dark rooms and high-end sound systems.

By 2016, the project had transitioned from shorter EP releases to full-length album projects, marking a significant step in artistic development. This progression demonstrated an ability to sustain a cohesive mood across longer formats. The years leading up to 2019 saw the artist refine a specific sonic template: tight percussion, heavy low-end, and an avoidance of unnecessary melodic elements. This disciplined approach to production earned the artist a dedicated within the global drum and bass community.

Genre and Style

Homemade Weapons operates squarely within the realms of drum and bass, specifically leaning toward the darker, more technically driven edges of the genre. The artist’s style is defined by meticulous sound design, where individual drum hits cut through the mix with surgical precision. Instead of relying on traditional song structures or vocal features, these tracks prioritize rhythmic complexity and stark soundscapes.

The drum and bass Sound

A key element of this approach is the heavy use of syncopation and polyrhythmic textures. The percussion frequently feels modular, with individual elements entering and dropping out to create tension without altering the base tempo. Basslines serve a functional, physical purpose: they anchor the rhythm and provide weight rather than acting as melodic focal points.

The atmospheric palette tends toward the claustrophobic. Reverb is applied sparingly, creating a sense of enclosed space rather than expansive, stadium-sized echo. This intimacy forces the listener to focus on the micro-changes within the percussion. Synthetic stabs and distorted textures occasionally surface, functioning as transitional tools or sudden accents rather than sustained motifs.

This commitment to functional, dancefloor-oriented production separates the artist from more accessible, liquid drum and bass contemporaries. The arrangements often strip away any superfluous elements, leaving a rigid skeleton of kick, snare, and sub-bass. It is a style that demands active listening and physical response, built for DJs to mix rather than casual background listening.

Key Releases

The discography of Homemade Weapons spans six years, split between two full-length albums and five extended plays.

  • albums:
  • Negative Space
  • Gravity
  • EPs:
  • After Dark EP

Discography Highlights

Albums:

In 2016, the project released its debut full-length album, Negative Space. This record consolidated the dark aesthetic established by earlier EPs into a cohesive long-player. Three years later, the 2019 album Gravity arrived, serving as the most recent confirmed release to date.

EPs:

Homemade Weapons initiated a prolific run of shorter releases right out of the gate. In 2013, the project issued two separate records: the After Dark EP and the Kintaro EP, marking the artist’s official entry into the scene. In 2015, the artist returned with the Clarion Call EP. The year proved to be a peak period for EP output. Both the Sleep Terror EP and the Coliseum EP saw release in 2016, bookending the debut album that dropped the same year.

Famous Tracks

Homemade Weapons built their discography methodically, beginning with two releases in 2013: the After Dark EP and the Kintaro EP. These early records established their presence in the American drum and bass scene, arriving during a period when the genre maintained a dedicated but small domestic .

The Clarion Call EP arrived in 2015, serving as a bridge between their initial output and the more productive period that followed. The year 2016 proved especially active, with three separate releases: the Sleep Terror EP, the Coliseum EP, and their debut album Negative Space. That transition from shorter EP-format releases to a full-length album marked a significant step, requiring consideration of pacing, variety, and cohesion across a longer collection of work.

Their sophomore album, Gravity, appeared in 2019 as their most recent full-length project. The three-year gap between albums allowed time for artistic development and refinement of production techniques.

The complete catalog spans seven releases across six years, a schedule that reflects sustained creative output. This consistency matters in genre communities where regular contributions help maintain visibility and audience engagement. The 2016 period stands out: releasing two EPs and one album within twelve months suggests either an accumulated backlog of completed material or a particularly productive creative phase.

Live Performances

Homemade Weapons operates within the American drum and bass performance circuit, a network of events and venues that functions largely independent of mainstream electronic music. In the United States, drum and bass events take place in smaller capacity settings: nightclubs, warehouses, and dedicated music spaces equipped with sound systems capable of reproducing the genre’s low-end frequencies accurately.

Notable Shows

The structure of American DnB events often involves multiple performers playing extended sets throughout the night. This format differs from festival djs billings where artists receive shorter time slots. Extended sets allow DJs to construct gradual progressions, shifting between moods and energy levels across several hours rather than condensing their approach into a brief window.

With seven releases spanning 2013 to 2019, Homemade Weapons’ original productions provide substantial material for live performance. Artists with catalogs of this size often blend their own tracks with material from other producers, creating sets that balance recognizable originals with broader genre selections.

The technical demands of drum and bass performance center on sound quality. The genre’s rhythmic complexity requires clear audio reproduction, particularly in the bass frequency range where kick drums, sub-bass, and percussive elements interact. Venues hosting regular DnB events prioritize these acoustic requirements in their sound system configurations.

American drum and bass performances depend on dedicated communities: local promoters who organize events, consistent venues willing to book the genre, and audiences who support a style of music that receives limited coverage in mainstream media outlets.

Why They Matter

Homemade Weapons occupies a specific position in American electronic music: a producer maintaining consistent output in a genre that has never achieved mainstream domestic success. Their six-year release history documents sustained engagement with drum and bass during a period when the genre’s cultural center remained in the UK and Europe.

Impact on drum and bass

The existence of artists like Homemade Weapons matters for the broader health of American electronic music. Genres thrive when EDM producers commit to long-term development rather than chasing commercial trends. A catalog of seven releases across multiple years demonstrates exactly this kind of commitment, providing a foundation for scene continuity and giving other producers reference points for their own work.

Their progression from EP-length releases to full albums traces an artistic arc worth examining. Early EPs function as statements of presence and capability, demonstrating technical skill within a condensed format. Albums demand more comprehensive artistic vision: thematic coherence, dynamic range, and sustained listener engagement across a longer running time. This transition indicates growth in both ambition and execution.

American drum and bass faces particular structural challenges: limited radio support, smaller domestic audiences compared to European markets, and competition from more commercially visible electronic genres. Artists who persist despite these conditions contribute to a musical ecosystem that values depth over visibility.

Their body of work serves as documentation of a specific strand of American music production, capturing how one producer approached drum and bass from a perspective and adding to the genre’s geographic diversity beyond its traditional strongholds. This documentation has lasting value: future listeners and producers can trace the development of American DnB through catalogs like this one, understanding how the genre adapted to and evolved within a different cultural context.

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