One of the biggest drivers in getting us into dubstep was discovering Zomboy‘s Never Say Die EPs over a decade ago. Both Game Time and The Dead Symphonic were fantastic works with a ton of replay potential that cemented Zomboy’s place in the genre. Of course, Never Say Die is no longer in operation, but Zomboy is creating his own record label, Rott N’ Roll Records.

Dead Man Walking Pt. 1 is out today from Zomboy, and it feels a lot like a return to the brilliance of those initial EPs. “‘Dead Man Walking Pt.1’ has so many meanings for me. “While the release is brief, I believe the attention to detail is some of my best to date,” he remarked of it. And there’s a reason why the EP format seems familiar as well.

“Nothing helps me write music more than creating a big theoretical concept to work towards,” Zomboy says. “In my head there is a deep underlying truth in this record, but for the sake of explanation… ‘Dead Man Walking Pt.1’ is the story of a man returning to a civilization he had once abandoned after helping them defeat a common enemy (Rott N’ Roll Pt. 1 & 2).

“If that goes over your head I don’t blame you, the stories are for me, the music is for you.” Listen to Dead Man Walking Pt. 1 below, including new collaborations with Micah Martin and MUST DIE!

Photo via Jake West Photo