If any genre can claim a gravitation towards the futuristic and technological, it’s drum & bass. From its earliest incarnations the music was about forward-thinking musicians pushing the envelope of what was technologically possible. At a young age Metrik, real name Tom Mundell, found himself pulled into D&B’s magnetism, drawn in by its clinical precision and emotive compositions.
Within this world he discovered a deep resonance with the pairing of man and machine. A marriage of man-made instruments manipulated by samplers, computers and effects plugins; overlaid with synthetic noises comprised of ones and zeros. That resonance gave Tom an unshakeable conviction and set the course for the rest of his life, taking him from setting up an online radio station in his bedroom to performing on the world’s biggest festival stages including EDC, Glastonbury and Parklife to name a few.
It’s a story that many present day producers can identify with, but when an artist’s debut single becomes an overnight classic, topping the download charts and clearing record store shelves, you know they’ve got something special. That’s what happened when Metrik dropped ‘Your World’, an instant hit which saw support from the likes of Pendulum, Bad Company and Viper Recordings’ founder Futurebound. A slew of incredible tracks were then released including his second big hit, the Annie Mac and Zane Lowe supported ‘Technicolour’ and timeless anthem ‘Freefall’.
Since signing to Hospital Records and releasing his debut album Universal Language, Metrik’s career has gone from strength to strength. He’s scored three UK Dance Chart Top 10's, mixed an edition of the prestigious BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix hosted by Pete Tong and has been given his own residency on BBC Radio 1. Off the airwaves, Metrik has taken his high-energy dance floor sound to the world, from the very best nightclubs and recently selling out his debut London headline show, through to festival appearances at Glastonbury, EDC, Global Gathering, Reading & Leeds and Hospitality In The Park.
With such a meteoric rise it’s little wonder that artists such as Eric Prydz, DJ Fresh, Gorgon City and Swedish House Mafia are lining up for a Metrik remix. Meanwhile fellow D&B high flyers - including Sub Focus, Netsky, Wilkinson and Friction - and acts as diverse as Elisabeth Troy, Gunship and the Ragga Twins are among his rich history of collaborators.
Building on the sound he’s been honing since his first record, Metrik has evolved into an artist fuelled with confidence and exploding with fresh ideas. The release of his sophomore long player LIFE/THRILLS took Metrik to new heights, in terms of widespread critical acclaim, and artistic fulfilment. Lead track ‘Chasing Sunrise’ dominated the airwaves hitting the 1Xtra and Beats One playlist for 6 weeks and championed by Annie Mac, Danny Howard and Julie Adenuga. The second single, 'We Got It' was a bonafide drum & bass smash hit achieving cult classic status and becoming Hospital Records’ highest performing record in terms of digital streaming.
2020 saw the release of his acclaimed third album, Ex Machina, which for the first time featured his own vocals, crystallising his signature sound and fusing rock/metal with his electronic influences. The album achieved over 15 million streams in the first week of release and along with singles 'Gravity', 'We Are The Energy' and 'Dying Light' helped pave the way to him winning 'Best Producer' at the 2020 DNBA Awards, as well as seeing the album hit #2 in the Official UK Dance Album Charts.
Never one to take his foot off the gas, 2021 saw a hugely successful string of singles from Metrik including both ‘Parallel’ and ‘Overdrive’ with fellow dance music behemoth Grafix. On top of this, Metrik also blessed the drum & bass community with the ‘Forza Horizon 5’ soundtrack special ‘Utopia’, alongside the much-awaited ‘Cadence (VIP)’ as part of Hospital Records’ 25th anniversary celebrations. The end of 2021 saw Metrik launch his acclaimed headline AV show, 'Ex Machina AV' to fans at London's 'Colours' in Hoxton. The show was so popular that within six months he bought Ex Machina AV back to London for a sold out night at 'The Steel Yard' near London Bridge. The show is a tour de force from start to finish, where Metrik designs and builds each visual, constantly reinventing and adding new material to compliment his new music as he writes and releases it. New Year 2023 saw the show have its first play in Europe at the infamous Integrated Circuit at their new venue, Zinkbad in Zurich.
As we step into 2023 with his highly anticipated single ‘Immortal’, keep an eye out for yet another mammoth Metrik project that is guaranteed to take the scene by storm and break new sonic boundaries as he does so bountifully, accompanied by breathtaking live AV performances that are set to elevate ravers worldwide into the stratosphere.
Metrik has a fascination with how things fit together. His early inspirations have carved a path for him that is littered with achievements, and yet it feels like the main thing the drum & bass superstar has achieved is an inimitable musical vision. An artist who has always wanted to bring a futuristic edge to his music, Metrik has become an artist who shapes the future of music itself. His vision is brought to effortless fruition thanks to his romance with the past. And his determination for crafting a musical vision that reaches far into the future is what makes him one of the most important drum & bass artists of today.
