Don Diablo’s New Drum & Bass Track: “The Formula” Review

“Hyped to finally share the ultimate secret weapon from my sets with the rest of the world! This one is for all the dance floors across the globe.” – Don Diablo / CONTROL ALT DΞLΞTΞ

With “The Formula,” Don Diablo continues his recalibration under the alias CONTROL ALT DΞLΞTΞ, a project introduced in late 2024 that now seems less like a side venture and more like a focused pivot. Collaborating with Dutch duo T & Sugah and UK vocalist Kris Kiss, the track situates itself firmly in drum & bass, both stylistically and culturally.

Structured around a high-tempo rhythmic core, “The Formula” employs sharp, clipped synths and a driving low end that reflect the genre’s demand for precision and impact. Kris Kiss’s vocals, reportedly written and recorded in a 15-minute session, match the energy with a tight, repetitive topline designed more for momentum than narrative. While not lyrically intricate, the vocal serves its purpose within the track’s functional architecture: to build energy and facilitate transitions, particularly in live settings.

The production leans on the genre’s standard mechanics—breakneck drums, tension-release build-ups, and bass-forward drops—but avoids redundancy through high-level engineering and a clear sense of direction. T & Sugah’s involvement plays a crucial role here. Known for their work with High Tea Music and frequent festival appearances, the pair bring genre fluency and credibility that reinforces Diablo’s position as more than a tourist in the DnB space.

Don Diablo’s intent is clear: to reset, not reinvent. As a producer who has long navigated the intersections of genre and brand, his move into DnB is calculated rather than reactionary. If CONTROL ALT DΞLΞTΞ continues to evolve with the same technical focus and collaborative grounding, it may yet become a durable extension of his creative identity.

Don Diablo’s forthcoming dates:

Apr 11 – TIKIFEST 2025 – Puna’auia, French Polynesia
May 03 – DLDK: Don’t Let Daddy Know Chile – Santiago, Chile
May 16 – Duplex – Prague, Czech Republic
May 31 – Jun 02 – NAMELESS Festival 2025 – Annone Di Brianza, Italy