Das Druid – Das EP Review

Das Druid - Das EP

Australian Cosmic Export 'Das Druid' return with Das EP - a hazy, euphoric embrace of the Madchester spirit.

Words by Mark Limb • January 26, 2026

The first essential new release of the year for us comes from Melbourne based Das Druid, delivering an EP that perfectly channels the baggy, summer of love energy that soundtracked Madchester through the late 80s and early 90s

The opening track, 'Freedom', sets the mood for the EP, with Shannon Mavrik’s hazy vocals and the psychedelic guitars drifting across a gentle breakbeat and rolling, subby bassline.

The production is superb, initially transporting you back to the indie dancefloors of those halcyon Madchester years, before a 303 line cuts through the mix and pulls the track firmly back into the present day.

'Incense' steps things down a notch, opening with soft, layered pads that wouldn't sound out of place on a Tornado Wallace track, nodding to a shared Melbourne sound.

The Stone Roses influences are also unmistakable, as the gentle shuffling drums, a Mani-esque bassline and glistening guitars sit beneath a dreamlike vocal that again feels like a lost classic from the summer of 1989, before the synth arps fade in over the outro.

The first part of the EP closes out with 'Less Than 3', driven by a conga led break that slowly builds into 303 backed middle section and chorus that pitches it perfectly for the dancefloor.

It is more uptempo than the other tracks, but the Madchester vibe is never far away as the hazy vocals continue to shimmer throughout while the percussion and guitars inject a groove that would have Bez reaching for his maracas!

The EP is complemented by 3 stellar remixes from Justin Robertson, Ruf Dug and DJ Subaru.

Justin Robertson, under his Five Green Moons guise, takes Freedom on a heavily tripped out dub excursion, layering percussion, dub FX, horns and spring reverbs over the guitars which are twisted into a middle eastern sounding, psychedelic groove.

It is a masterclass in remixing from a true Northern legend, and with a catalogue that includes work with The Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, Yargo and Ariel amongst others, he was the perfect choice for this EP.

Ruf Dug heads straight for the dancefloor with a heads down chugger built around a riff that kind of reminds me of a pitched down and heavily twisted version of Roach Motel’s Wild Luv.

The shimmering guitars are replaced with feedback and distorted riffs that build throughout, sounding like something made to be heard under a red light and a strobe, completely destroying a dancefloor.

The EP closes with the DJ Subaru mix, a straight up four to the floor, acid tinged banger. The guitars and vocals still peek through at times, but this is the most uptempo mix of the set and very much the kind of thing you would expect Subaru to be rocking at P-Bar or their own Pleasuremaxxx party in Leeds.

This is an awesome EP from start to finish and Das Druid are definitely a group to watch in the future.

Find out more about the band here

https://www.instagram.com/das_druid

https://www.wearerhythmsection.com

Das EP is available via Rhythm Section now

https://dasdruid.bandcamp.com/album/das-ep