[REVIEW] The Outside Agency & Sei2ure - Undermind/Pacifists

  

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This release I must say has probably been one of the more anticipated releases this year for me. Two of my favorite industrial artists joining forces, The Outside Agency & Sei2ure. The Outside Agency are legends in both DnB & Hardcore, having invented the Cross-breed genre, while Sei2ure is considered one of the leaders in the industrial movement.

The A side, Undermind, is a definite heavy hitter. The kick in this song is massive while it reflects the elements of both the gritty bit-crushed kicks of Sei2ure, and the clean overdrive kicks of the Outside Agency. The snare isn't reflected too much in the high-end but keeps itself at a respective level and adds to the power of the groove. The  first breakdown has a very dubstep like groove to it. The breakdown eventually disperses into a dream like atmosphere that gives me the feeling like I am stuck in the sky and there is no sight of the ground. This track is truly fitting into the cross-breed style and definitely has the energy to keep a party going. I will probably play this alot at parties and I know Ross will too. I give this track 5/5

The B side, Pacifists, is the most abrasive track on the record. The song begins building the energy with abstract drum beats and a hair raising synth pad that really sets the tone of this track, we mean business. The vocal sample is central part of why this song works so well. ("When we come back, no talk, no negotiating, no hostages. We Kill Everyone.") The song doesn't stop keeping you on the edge, this song is primal, fierce, and powerful. Only The Outside Agency & Sei2ure could have created a track like this. This track gets a 5/5
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LABEL: Genosha One Seven Five
CATALOG #: GEN 175007
PURCHASE: http://www.junodownload.com/products/undermind/1861918-02/

[REVIEW] Ruffneck - The Global Hardcore Gathering

LABEL: Rotterdam Records
CATALOG #: ROT123
PURCHASE: Hardtunes

ORIGINAL MIX

This track is a letdown. Overall, it sounds incredibly amateur especially coming from one of the very first Hardcore DJs in history. The vocal sample is awkward, the melody is boring, the lead synth is too dry and thin. Ruffneck doesn't do the anthem format very well. With recent tracks that dominate like Reign of Chaos, this track just feels like a bad stain on Ruffneck's discography. He is much better at the atonal, industrial style that he has developed.


TIEUM NIGHTMARE DEDICATION REMIX

Tieum is also one of those producers who isn't very good at the anthem format but at least here he doesn't try too hard to be something he isn't. This is the best track on the release and it could stand on its own but it doesn't really capture the Nightmare vibe. It just feels like another Tieum track with a Nightmare related vocal sample.

SHADOWLANDS AGGRESSORS REMIX

I don't hear much about Shadowlands Aggressors and I now know why. The synth in the beginning is way too loud which takes away from the impact of the drop immensely. The breakdown is probably the best part of the track. It fits the Nightmare vibe perfectly but it goes on too long and doesn't flow with the second part of the track. The second drop is lackluster and the melody is boring. The bad mixdown coupled with awkward elements make for a perfectly forgetable track.

[REVIEW] Lunatic & Miss Hysteria- Double Bind EP

LABEL: Bassmachine Records
CATALOG #: BASS013
PURCHASE: http://www.hardtunes.com/albums/lunatic-and-miss-hysteria-double-bind/987/


This is actually a surprisingly good release for me. I've never really payed much attention to Lunatic and/or Miss Hysteria but I just may start after this release.

WORST POSSIBLE MISERY FOR EVERYONE

I like this track because its dark but not in the miserable, violent, oppressive kind of way. Ethereal is the best way to describe it. The sound design is creative and the atmosphere is lush. It has that emotional Trancey feel to it but just enough Hardcore flavor to keep me interested and wanting to stomp around. I don't think I would drop this track at a party but I would definitely have it on repeat for a cold, dark night with headphones.

DOUBLE BIND

Although Lil' Jon samples are a little tired at this point, I love the energy in this track. There's no long breakdown, no melody, and barely a synth to add atmosphere. The track has a Neophyte feel to it - fast, angry, and energetic with a no bullshit attitude. A solid track made for a classic hardcore romp around the dancefloor.

CODEX

The concept for this track is great but I think what really hurts it is the weak snare and the breakdowns. You can see what Miss Hysteria's vision was but it wasn't executed well enough. Lots of producers are attempting the crossbreed route but few have perfected it. It's great that this style is spreading but the production value is very hard to nail - the snare drums being the biggest hurdle. Aside from the breakdowns, this track suffers from a "well, what now?" episode towards the end - it just keeps going and its evident that Miss Hysteria ran out of ideas on how to finish the track. Codex is a good effort and I think that with a little more work Miss Hysteria could make much better crossbreed tunes. It's either that or she should stick with the normal Hardcore sound.

Project Hardcore 2011 CD announced.

https://www.recess.nl/cd-dvd/info/project-hardcore-2011-/50444/

Both CD's look killer as fuck. Very stoked about CD 2 which is mixed by TOA.

CD1:

1. DJ Mad Dog ft. MC Jeff - Dedicated To Your Project (Project Hardcore 2011 Official Anthem)
2. Tha Playah - Clockwork
3. DJ Mad Dog & Tommyknocker - Who's The Best
4. DJ Mad Dog & Amnesys - Game Over
5. Distorted Revelation - The Horizon
6. Meccano Twins - Ignite
7. Prankster - Blood & Tears
8. Neophyte & Tha Playah - Snitcher!
9. The Viper & Tha Playah - Fearless
10. Omi - Anna
11. Traxtorm Gangstaz Allied - The Hardest
12. Hellsystem - The Doctor
13. The Stunned Guys & Amnesys - The Symphony Of Sins
14. Catscan & Tomcat - Impending Doom
15. Tha Playah - On The Edge
16. Neophyte & The Viper - Nothing To Lose
17. DJ Mad Dog & AniMe - Hardcore Machine
18. Counterfeit - Chasing Payments
19. Alien T - The Baddest Madness
20. Neophyte & Tieum - Les Saboteurs
21. Unexist - Body Bag
22. The Viper & Neophyte ft. Miss Twilight - Fightwar
23. Art Of Fighters - Oh My Sun
24. Neophyte & Tha Playah - Trasher!

CD2:

1. Tymon & Ophidian - The One
2. Angel - Can You See Me
3. Deathmachine - Imitations
4. Mindustries - The Arrival
5. The Outside Agency - Choice Mission
6. Angel - Like That
8. SPL & Ophidian - Subconscious
9. The Outside Agency & Ophidian - The Silence
10. Mindustries - Resurgence
11. Mindustries & SPL - Brotherhood Of Steel
12. The Outside Agency & Ruffneck - Waste Of Humanity
13. Mindustries - Resistance
14. Endymion - Anger (Ophidian Rmx)
15. The Outside Agency & Current V - They Are Human
16. Homeboy & Lowroller - No Longer Human
17. Lenny Dee - Fuckin Hostile (The Outside Agency Rmx)
18. Peter Kurten, Katharsys and Th - Favorite Sin
19. The Outside Agency - Primitive
20. The Outside Agency & Sei2ure - Pacifists
21. The Outside Agency & Tapage - Industrial Cooking Spray
22. Enzyme X - Superfly
23. Mindustries - Facerocker (The immobilizers VIP)
24. Producer & Deathmachine - 10 Years Of Influence
25. Deathmachine - Dark Energy
26. Lowroller - Bottomless Grave
27. The Outside Agency & Donny - Among Us
28. Tymon - Desolation
29. The Outside Agency - Destruction
30. The Speed Freak - Time To Die Harder (The Outside Agency Reboot)

My review on the WOMP HARD set.

   Tilduh and I performed a versus set at the break away event WOMP HARD. Womp is usually a dubstep weekly, but for their 1 year anniversary they invited the harder styles to come and play, with us leading the charge in Dutch Hardcore. I am not one to compliment myself seriously, but I have to definitely say that we killed it. With 300+ people raging during our set there is not a doubt in my mind that we were one of the most successful acts that night. I am more than happy to have played with my partner in crime and I hope we have the opportunity to perform together again for such an amazing audience.

Our set:
1- Control D Future - Amnesys - Traxtorm Records
2- Rule of Cool (Art of Fighters Remix) - Tha Playah - Neophyte Records
3- Crunk - Tommyknocker - Traxtorm Records
4- Bounce Back - Tha Playah - Neophyte Records
5- Spiteful - Negative A - Negative Audio
6- Real Rude - The Wishmaster & Promo - The Third Movement Records
7- Anger (Ophidian Remix) - Endymion - Enzyme Records
8- Lack of Existence - Nosferatu & DJ Mad Dog - Enzyme Records
9- Criminal - Tommyknocker - Traxtorm Records
10- Dead End Streets - Art of Fighters - Traxtorm Records
11- Blood - Hellsystem - Hardcore Blasters
12- Larum - Gancher & Ruin ft. Triamer - PRSPCT
13- Vows of Doubt - Synapse & Ruffneck - Enzyme K7
14- Hardcore Machine - Mad Dog ft. Anime - Traxtorm Records
15- Abandon - Ophidian - Enzyme X
16- The Doctor - Hellsystem - Hardcore Blasters
17- Enemigo Del Estado - Nosferatu - Enzyme Records
18- Arena of Destiny - T-Junction - Masters of Hardcore

Issue 04: Triskaidekaphobia - Ophidian/Tymon/Tapage/Petrochemical - Meta 4 M

  It goes without saying that I am a die hard Ophidian fan, the man's a genius and a revolutionary in Hardcore music unlike any other, so it goes without saying that I love his label Meta 4. Meta 4 is another one of those labels that doesn't compromise in it's goals and never ceases to put out quality tracks with that experimental flare that I love. This latest Industrial release is named after the fear of the number 13, showing off Ophidian's pinache for all things dark.

 Track Nr. 1 on this release is a collabe with Tymon, an Australian industrial producer that nows how to distrot a kick. "The One" is definitely a dark work of production finesse, with it's hard techno rhythms and it's deadly kick that came from hell. The breaks have the eeriest pad I have heard in ALONG time, the sample and build-up are pure annihilation. This song is definitely a smasher at 5/5.

  Track 2 is a collabe of the dynamic duo, Tapage & Ophidian. I absolutely love Tapage's work, he is an absolute genius with programing and sound engineering, his kicks can use a little work but with time I think he will become one of the leaders in hardcore music. Though as much as I love Tapage, "The Room" is an alright track. It's kick is hollow, and that is a big let down for an industrialist like myself. The melodies and the break are really interesting, definitely unique. This song is about a 3/5.

  Track 3 is a collabe with Petrochemical, they are a duo and I am interested by their work, but I do not have alot of experience with their work as I'd like to admit. From what I have heard from them in the past they are excellent and some of my colleges tell me that they are a phenomenal pair behind the decks, but this is about their song with Ophidian, "Inanimate." This track is by far the best on the release, it's heavy, it's noisy, it's rough, and it's very experimental in nature. I can't even begin to describe this song, you'll just have to listen to the preview. I feel like i need to adjust my rating system because 5/5 doesn't cut it, 9/5. It's irrational, deal with it.

  Track 4 is a collabe with a producer that has produced gold with Ophidian in the past, Deciever. The golden track of what I speak of that they worked on together in the past is Wolfman, which is probably the best Meta 4 song yet. "Book of the Dead" is a really interesting track. It starts off with a spacey pad and introduces alot of artifacts, definitely speaks out to the IDM lovers. This song's dream like atmosphere shatters with a pounding yet thin kick. The song is interesting but nothing absolutely new in the world of industrial. 3/5



Previews:
1. Tymon & Ophidian - The One
2. Tapage & Ophidian - The Room
3. Petrochemical & Ophidian - Inanimate
4. Deciver & Ophidian - Book of The Dead

On The Edge - Tha Playah - NEO056

 This new Neophyte release features non other than one of the finest mainstream hardcore artists, Tha Playah. This song features his latest masterpiece "On The Edge."

  The A side "On The Edge" is nothing short of pure sonic gold. This song starts out with a spiritual and inspiring sample and heavenly pads and breaks. This song progressively becomes more energized and dramatic as the synth pulls through and lets loose a torrent of hardcore energy. This song is going to be in every mainstream set for the next year, it's just that good. Tha Playah has really outdone himself this time, 5/5.

  The B side is a re-envisioning of the classic "Funeral March of Queen Mary II" which was made famous as the intro and theme for Anthony Burgess's eye opening novel turned cult-classic film "A Clockwork Orange." (Film directed by Stanley Kubrick) The song is nothing supremely special but it is a great floor-filler and holds a special place in my heart, being a die-hard fan of the source material. 3/5



Previews: On The Edge / Clockwork