With drum ‘n bass making its imprint around the world, there’s one country that few seem to recognize as a major player in the genre — South Africa.
Not compromising their sound or their location, Animal Chin and 500 Mills – better known as Counterstrike — have placed Cape Town, South Africa on the map.

While they might seem like a duo of computer geeks at first glance, they delightfully take you on a vicious ride through articulate, angsty drum patterns and bone-shattering basslines as the resident butchers of sound in their own tech step territory.

Animal Chin and 500 Mills marked their first release on Allied Recordings in 2001. It was at this time that they came to realize a group name was critical for their success.

“We thought it would be easier if we had a collective name, rather than Animal Chin and 500 Mills. I was looking for a name with the word ‘strike’ in it, after Swift's ‘Second Strike,’ ” Animal Chin said. “Eaton started playing the game. We had no idea that the game would become so popular. Even though the game overshadows us, we are still able to attach our own identity to our name.”

But even before Animal and Mills became known as Counterstrike, they had launched Algorythm Recordings in 2000 as a sort of revolt against the drum ‘n bass labels in the United Kingdom that wouldn’t take them seriously.

“We started Algorythm in 2000 because we were fed up with the labels in the UK who didn’t take to our sound. Most probably just chucked our demos in the trash because it came from South Africa,” Animal said. “At that time, the UK wasn’t very open to artists from abroad, and after sending hundreds of demo CDs, we thought we'd release the tunes ourselves. Hence, Biogenesis was the result.

“We sold close to 1,000 copies in independent record stores in S.A. It never saw an international release, except for the tracks ‘Questions’ and ‘Pressure,’ which were released on Allied Recordings. Biogenesis was our first various artists album on Algorythm Recordings, mixed by myself and featuring myself, 500 Mills, Carl Fremen and Tasha Baxter,” Animal said. “Without the help of Revolution Recordings' DJ Impact, who took our demo to a bunch of people in the UK, I don't know where we'd be.”

After various releases on Invader, Core, Cell, Leet, Outbreak and Drop On Request, Counterstrike got their big break with the “Wardance EP” on Moving Shadow.

“It was a big release for us in that Moving Shadow is a label that we've always admired, and to be asked to do and EP for them was a big milestone,” Animal Chin said on the magnificent accomplishment. “AK1200 hooked that up for us. It's funny that we've had more support and help from U.S. DJs than UK DJs in the beginning of our career. Dieselboy helped us to get our first very release on Allied Recordings from a demo that we gave him when he visited South Africa in 2000.”

Counterstrike has done quite well over the past six years and with 40 vinyl releases to date, there's a lot more to be heard. Many new releases are in the pipeline for Counterstrike, including “Triggerhappy” that has been in dubplate rotation for well over a year and finally out on promo for new imprint, Guerilla Recordings. “I’ve known Breaker and Silent Killer for a while now; both great guys. I've always respected Silent Killer so it's great to share a release with him,” said Animal.

As a leading promoter in the South African drum ‘n bass scene over the last 14 years, Counterstrike has redefined what is “standard” in town.

“We have given drum 'n bass a home over the past six years in the form of Homegrown, the biggest monthly drum 'n bass night in S.A.,” Animal Chin said with accomplishment. “I'd say that the scene in Cape Town is, to an extent, so strong, because of our tireless efforts over the years.”

They have helped develop local talent like Magna Karta and SFR, as well as putting on nearly 300 events over the last decade.

“Homegrown is always a packed-out party. [Whether] we host an international headliner or just local DJs, the party is always rammed and going off. We cover the whole spectrum of drum 'n bass.” he goes on. “We start the night off with liquid, then move into jump up and hard shit with the bleepy, neuro coming in toward the end; the perfect progression. We are hoping to take Homegrown to Johannesburg at some point.”
and Trank’s “Blood Money” and “Nothing Remains.” Counterstrike’s first album, “Insubordination,” is next up on the label with plans for release later this year.

And though he remained quiet throughout most of the interview, Mills has quite a bit planned for this year.

“A lot of TV work, channel IDs and TV show openings for the satellite network here in Africa,” he says on his busy schedule. “I am in the process of redesigning www.algorythmrecordings.com, which is set to launch later this year. There will also be a video for one of the tracks off of “Insubordination.” In addition, I am working on www.500mills.com to showcase some of my work. I am very happy to have an outlet like Algorythm for my work. No client to have to answer to ... because we are the client.”

Big things are in order at the Trouble on Vinyl camp for Counterstrike this year including “Rise” on Renegade Hardware and two tracks on the upcoming Barcode album, “Symptomless Coma,” which will also feature a mixed CD put together by the group. Counterstrike will be invading the U.S. shores again this summer with following dates in Europe, Australia and New Zealand during the fall. Contact Emily Itch with Anger Management at emily@angeruk.net.