Kettama's 'Archangel' – Album Review

Released on October 3, 2025, via Steel City Dance Discs, Archangel is the long‑awaited debut album from Irish producer Kettama. The 15-track project blends hard‑house energy, trance euphoria and breakbeat nostalgia. In this review, I'll dissect the highlights, call out the missteps, and tell you whether this genre mash‑up deserves your attention.

Background and Sound

Kettama announced Archangel in August 2025 after a decade of honing his craft. Collaborators like Interplanetary Criminal, DJ Heartstring, Fred Again.., Clouds and more contribute to the album’s diverse sound palette. From the shimmering synths of “Archangel” (feat. Sølv) to the gritty breakbeats of “Yosemite,” the album swings between euphoria and raw aggression. The mixture of house, techno and trance elements is intentional – at times exhilarating, at others exhausting.

Track Highlights

  • "Yosemite" – A collaboration with Interplanetary Criminal that fuses breakbeats with melodic hooks. It’s one of the few moments where the album feels cohesive.
  • "Take Me" – This thumping, synth‑soaked track showcases Kettama’s knack for club‑ready bangers; critics singled it out as a standout.
  • "It Gets Better (Forever Mix)" – Featuring Maurice Santiago, this track samples Plummet’s 2003 club hit “Damaged.” While the nostalgia is appreciated, the arrangement feels unfinished.

Weak Spots

The title track “Archangel” sets a surprisingly underwhelming tone; some reviewers felt it was an anticlimactic opener. Tracks like “Air Maxes” (with Fred Again.. and Shady Nasty) are sonically dense but lack the emotional punch the album promises. The album’s mid‑section meanders, with experiments that feel more like filler than fully realised songs.

Verdict

Archangel is a bold debut that refuses to stay in one lane. Its blend of hard‑house, trance and breakbeat offers moments of brilliance – but also drags in places. If you’re a fan of high‑energy dance music, give tracks like “Yosemite” and “Take Me” a spin. As an album, though, it’s more of a curated playlist than a cohesive statement. It will be interesting to see where Kettama goes next, but Archangel feels like a rough draft rather than a masterpiece.