Patrick Topping Continues Club-Focused Run With New Hellbent Release

Patrick Topping steps onto Cloonee’s Hellbent Records for the first time with Pop That / Boom Shakalak, a direct two-track release aimed squarely at club systems. The record arrived March 6, 2026 and continues a busy run for the imprint, which opened the year with Cloonee’s XTC followed by Joshwa’s Out Of My Mind. Both releases climbed to the top of Beatport’s overall chart and helped position Hellbent as one of the labels to watch in the current wave of modern house music.

Topping’s arrival on the label also marks another step in his recent return to a more stripped and club-focused sound. After closing 2025 with his Solid Grooves release All The DJs, the Newcastle producer has been leaning back into the kind of direct dancefloor writing that first put his name into DJ sets around the world.

Pop That focuses on groove and direct dancefloor movement

The first half of the release, Pop That, lands with the type of rhythm structure that DJs tend to reach for in the middle of a busy set. The track runs on a tight percussion framework that gives the groove room to breathe while the vocal phrasing adds a clear focal point inside the arrangement.

What stands out most in the record is how controlled the low end feels. The bass and kick lock together in a way that keeps the track pushing forward without overcomplicating the mix. It is the type of structure that leaves space for transitions and layering inside longer DJ sets, which likely explains why producers with Topping’s background continue to favor this approach.

The result feels direct and practical from a DJ perspective. There is a clear groove, a recognizable vocal hook, and an arrangement that keeps momentum moving without unnecessary detours.

Boom Shakalak leans into high energy club programming

The second track, Boom Shakalak, moves into a slightly more aggressive rhythm pattern while keeping the same functional mindset. The percussion carries more drive and the hook structure pushes the energy up a level, which makes it an easy candidate for peak-time sections of a set.

The pacing of the arrangement follows the same discipline heard across much of Topping’s earlier catalog. The track builds its movement through rhythm and repetition rather than constant changes, which helps it sit naturally inside a DJ mix.

Taken together, Pop That / Boom Shakalak works as a compact club release built for DJs who want reliable tools that move a room without overthinking the arrangement. It also continues Hellbent Records’ steady run of releases that sit right in the center of current house music programming.