Ministry of Sound, for years the premiere label in British nightlife, often reserved its compilations for music of low quality and brief shelf life. The club collective also, however, released a few stellar historical compilations, capable of encapsulating in a double-disc set nearly all the prime moments in a genre -- here, the narrow hardcore techno subgenre that mutated slowly during the early '90s into the massive sound of jungle. While the drum'n'bass scene pushed across dozens of classic tracks, the 38 on tap here easily account for most of the best ever recorded. The most surprising (and simplest) comment to make is that Back to the Old Skool: Drum n Bass has no clear weak points, especially shocking given the vast scope and limited space. A few of the highlights: the early darkness of Origin Unknown's "Valley of the Shadows," Omni Trio's drum masterpiece "Renegade Snares," the rugged pop breakthrough "Original Nuttah" by U.K. Apachi & Shy FX, and the ultimate in doom drum'n'bass, DJ Trace's remix of "Mutant Jazz" by T.Power. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide