In 2014, Alive at Night began with the motivation to bring fresh, innovative and well-written critical opinions to the scene. What started as a passion project soon flourished into one of the most respected and notorious media outlets in Hard Dance music. We were never afraid to speak the truth (even at the expense of hurting butts) and we retained our ethics and benchmark quality in each and every article.
However, after three and a half incredible years, I am devastated to announce that Alive at Night is knocking off to sleep.
The reason? Life happened. For the past year, I have been working for an excellent company in Hard Dance music, in a dream position. From the beginning, I’ve been determined to give all of my passion, creativity and energy into my job, but of course, this came at the expense of taking some things off my plate too. Alive at Night was one of them. I am still going to be heavily involved in Hard Dance music with my current job, so of course you will still see my ‘work’ floating around, and also downing wine at festivals. This music is still my passion, and my decision to close the AAN doors is in no way, shape, or form, an indication that I have left the scene.
Anyway, I want to keep this goodbye short and simple. I’d like to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has ever been involved with Alive at Night since 2014. To the writers, web nerds, camera guys, designers, advisers and anyone else who contributed to the project (you know who you all are) – it’s been a pleasure working with you all! Furthermore, another THANKS to all of the artists, organisations and fans, who believed in the project, read our content and gave us overwhelmingly great feedback. It’s been a crazy and incredibly turnt ride and it’s paved the way for some great things for myself, and also for my talented and devoted team.
In the coming weeks, we will publish our final two articles. One will be an Intents Festival review written by Stijn and the other a little personal article from myself – so stay tuned 
Love Cassi & the AAN team!
Not that I want to make our European readers envious or anything, but it’s still summer here in Sydney and it’s still baking hot. At the end of January we had a long weekend and everyone was absolutely ready for a party!
Ever since the news just over a year ago that HSU Events had taken over HTID we’d been eagerly awaiting an HTID Australia event, and finally, on Saturday 27th January, that day arrived.
JTS and Technikore got the event off to a flying start, showcasing their superb new album “The Colour of Sound” as ravers flocked through the venue doors and dashed straight down to the front of the stage, eager to catch every minute of the action.
Weaver and Suae were next up to the decks, and when they dropped “Power & The Glory” it occurred to me that HTID Australia was in many ways taking us back to an earlier era of the Sydney rave scene, where at some major events UK Hardcore was the main attraction of the night. It felt very special to be back at Sydney Olympic Park with so many thousands of ravers wanting to hear this music, and with the UK Hardcore artists on the line up including those who set the foundations for this genre so many years ago, and who are still leading the scene today.
By the end of Weaver and Suae’s set the crowd were absolutely warmed up and ready for the first international act – Dougal. The full spectacle of the stage production started to come to life as Dougal treated us to an awesome full hour set, featuring big tunes “Shoulder Lock”, “Kryptonite” and so many more.
Audiofreq held the crowd captive with a set that as always was gloriously unpredictable, with a track selection ranging from his famous “Warcry” right through to “Lethal Industry” as a hark back to the days of his Orbit1 alias. The one moment we could predict however was that Audiofreq’s set would finish with the beautiful HTID Australia anthem, “Infinite”.
The set that all the old school ravers had of course come to see was Hixxy. While his set comprised mainly newer material, every moment was absolutely packed full of classic Hixxy energy to satisfy everyone’s cravings!
Following straight on from Hixxy was the set that absolutely everyone had come to see – Stonebank’s very first ever appearance in Australia. Despite the wide range of music styles that Stonebank produces, his HTID set was mainly focused on his euphoric hardcore anthems, which is absolutely what we’d hoped for. Whether in his own original productions such as the incredible “By Your Side” or in his remixes, Stonebank’s melodic style stands out in a class of its own.
Up next and continuing the euphoric vibes was Code Black, always a favourite with his hometown crowd. Code Black of course took the opportunity to drop his new collaboration with Darren Styles, “Sparks”, which is certain to be a huge tune this year.
As a hot afternoon turned into a decidedly warm evening, those ravers who were smart enough to buy fans from the merchandise tent were now generously sharing the benefit of those fans with friends and strangers alike on the dancefloor, and I’m very grateful to everyone who helped me to keep cool!
The headline set was Darren Styles vs Gammer, where fast-paced mixing was the order of the day as both artists brought in as many as possible of their latest tracks, with as yet unreleased Darren Styles tunes “The Dragon” and “Switch” going down a storm, along with collaborations such as “Party Don’t Stop” and “Feel Like This”. This is the last time in the foreseeable future that Darren Styles and Gammer will play together – but I’d like to think ‘never say never’!
Continuing the current HTID trend of minimal MC participation, at HTID Australia there was another nod to classic Sydney events with Sydney’s own MC Losty being on hosting duties and just very occasionally jumping in with some bars.
The night drew to a close with an exhilarating hour of Frenchcore from teenage genius Sefa, who won many new fans (myself included!) after his highly impressive performance.
Needless to say with HSU Events at the helm, the event production was absolutely on point all night. Just two weeks later the HTID team did it all over again at HTID USA in San Francisco, which was another sell out event. This year is already off to an amazing start, with UK Hardcore well and truly rocking on the world stage!
On Saturday the 16th of December, under intense heat, flocks of ravers from around the globe flew in to Sydney Showgrounds to witness the last instalment of Knockout Circuz and a moment that would be forever etched into the history of Hard Dance music worldwide. With a star-stuttered lineup featuring a once in a lifetime “Resurrected” set by Showtek and a sellout crowd to match it, HSU Events were in the spotlight of the global Hard Dance music scene and all eyes were watching.
Entering the festival grounds, the spirits were high and expectations were higher. The liquor was flowing and banter was in overdrive. As the sea of smiling faces swarmed the gates and pranced around the emptiness of the giant festival hall I was blown away by the grand scale of the stage that was created. A towering lion head that had been spliced with metal and machinery, cogs and screws, pierced its eyes through the crowd as if it was searching for prey. Its mouth was roaring with fangs of metal bolts and the crown atop its head displayed to the crowd that this lion was conquered by HSU. Below and either side of the tremendous beast laid 15 immense LCD screens and a tapestry of pyrotechnics, lights and lazers, ready to engulf the arena. I personally felt as though this was one of the best stage setups I have seen, not only in Australia but around the world. The theme and matchings aesthetics were on point and it made for an atmosphere unlike any other I have witnessed or felt from other events.
After a brief moment looking around at the food trucks on offer, the thunderous kicks and delightful melodies of Devin Wild filled every corner of the enormous hall. It was awesome to see such a young talent on such a large scale stage. Devin Wild definitely has a bright future ahead of him after such an emphatic year so I am hopeful that when he returns to Australian shores he will be playing when the production is in full effect.
As Devin Wild finished his set, the crowd was graced by the contagious smile of DJ Isaac and his “Classics” set. After replenishing our alcohol levels we bobbed through the ocean of happy ravers and sung along to all of our favourite tunes from the “Golden Years” of Hardstyle. After that, DJ The Prophet played an impactful and intense set which was something I expected from the Godfather of Hardstyle, but something I didn’t expect was his movement and malleability between Hardstyle, Reverse Bass and Raw Hardstyle. It was a sight to behold and definitely one of the most inspiring sets to watch as an aspiring DJ.
When the afternoon sun started to slip away Code Black graced the lion’s mouth with his hot new look and fresh take on Hardstyle. After a string of heavy-hitting releases on WE R, Code Black brought an onslaught of new music to the table. With unreleased tracks like “No Reality” and “Together As One” blasting from the monstrous sound-system it wasn’t hard to choose his set as one of the top picks of the night. As his set progressed, the lion started taking on more personalities, teasing the crowd with lights and lasers.
The end of Code Black brought the beginning of the “Knockout Circuz Spectacular”, an intense 10 minute display of HSU flexing their production muscles. With fireworks, flames, lights and lasers working in unison and the lion being controlled by the voice of a lion tamer, it all culminated to make an awe inspiring atmosphere which paved the way for the rest of an epic night.
Coone was the next DJ to play and he opened the set with his brand spanking new collaboration with Hard Driver, “Showtime 2.0”, which immediately got a huge response from the crowd. His set was a lot harder than I imagined it would be which makes me wonder how much of an impact some of the Raw Hardstyle producers are having on the biggest names of the industry. Alongside this, I feel as though Sub Zero Project, who performed later in the night, are without a doubt one of the key reasons as to why Hardstyle is getting harder. Talking with the artists at Knockout it is clear that they all have immense respect for what these guys have done for not only Raw Hardstyle, but for the integrity of artistry and being able to look outside the box when it comes to creating tracks. With some a tight-knit community surrounding Hardstyle it is hard for artists to stray far from what they know because of the possibility of a backlash from fans. However, I believe Sub Zero Project has created an air of diversity, experimentation and unification which has been missing in previous years.
After some impressive sets by crowd favourites D-Block & S-te-Fan and Da Tweekaz, an intense hype-up began for “The Resurrected”. Black and grey stone writing punched through the screens with the titles of their tracks while a huge stone figure began swirling into the foreground. When Showtek were announced I heard a roar like I have never heard before in my life. Their set was everything I wanted it to be and more. The mixture of classics and new tracks was amazing and it was so rewarding to finally hear old-school mixing for a change. As they dropped their old tracks like “Here We Fucking Go” and “Electronic Stereophonic” Ft. DV8 people were shouting in disbelief, “How does it still sound so fresh?” I was glad to be a part of history and witness such an epic set and so too was every other raver in the packed arena.
Ultimately, Knockout Circuz 2017 was for me the pinnacle of not only Hard Dance music but of any dance music festival in Australia. The music, the production, the atmosphere, the people, the party, for me it blew every other festival or event out of the water.
Article written by Roos Klont
On Saturday 9th of December, Alive At Night took a trip down memory lane at Free2Party’s Reminder – Hardstyle Classics Lovers party, held indoors at The Box in Amsterdam, and boy did Reminder provide us with some amazing Hardstyle classics.
We’ve been to our fair share of early/classic Hardstyle parties, and usually the event ends up being a euphoric Hardstyle party, instead of an actual classics one. But Reminder proves that it can be done differently. We arrived at around twelve o’ clock, when Josh & Wesz were still playing. The area was already packed and even though it was a little cold inside, the atmosphere was really warm. The event attracted a wide range of people and we ran into many different nationalities, which was amazing to see, including German, Belgian, British and even Italian people.
When Noisecontrollers started to play his set, it was very clear who everyone had come to see. The front of the venue became packed, as Noisecontrollers played a lot of his famous classics like “Crumps” and “Yellow Minute”. Unfortunately after Noisecontrollers the venue started becoming a bit emptier, but this wasn’t a downer for the amazing atmosphere, which continued to be felt throughout the entire night. Noisecontrollers showed us once again why he is one of the kings of Hardstyle classics.
We stayed to watch Tatact (Tatanka & Activator), and loved every minute of their set. They played a lot of tracks that aren’t heard a lot anymore at events, and we really appreciated that fact that they played a real classic like “Tokyo”. To us, this really was the set of the night, and we really enjoyed dancing with all the crazy Italians that came all the way to see Tatact play.
We want to thank MC The Russian for guiding the audience and artists through the night, and we’d like to thank Free2Party for the ultimate trip down memory lane!
In the first of two articles from our Australian team, Nicki shares her experience of Knockout Circuz 2017. Keep an eye out for Howard’s write up coming soon!
In Australia, we don’t get events like this very often. These are the dates in our calendar that we look forward to, that we count down the days to. For the diehard fans, there’s no question of missing an HSU event. I’m in awe of Alive at Night’s Howard, who was truly hardcore this year, busy at the side show in Brisbane on Friday night then flying down to Sydney, landing just in time to check in at his hotel then dash straight to the event. This is typical of the Australian raver’s dedication and passion.
“This is what I love, and can’t stop loving…”
At a party this big it’s amazing to think there’s any chance of running into friends… but I always do, if only for a quick embrace or a fist bump before we get lost in the crowd again; words are not necessary, we understand each other’s feelings – today is HSU day, it’s Knockout Circuz, this is our day to celebrate.
With such a stacked line up, in such a huge venue, there’s no way I could soak up the full experience of the event and also catch enough of every set to give you a true critic’s review. Instead I offer to you the humble viewpoint of a passionate raver, a long time lover of the harder styles who needed to burn off the stress of recent months at work by having a few responsible drinks and dancing her little socks off on this magical summer evening.
After arriving in time to catch Isaac’s classics set, I was truly ‘in the zone’ by the time Code Black took to the stage with an early contender for favourite set of the night, with standout moments including the ultimate euphoric highs of “Accelerate”, signature anthem “Pandora” and hot new collaboration with Crisis Era, “Beat Cannon”.
I also took this opportunity to admire the stage in all its glory. The lion which had featured so prominently in promotion for Knockout Circuz was brought to life as the centrepiece of the stage. With teeth partially replaced by screws, and a menacing, mechanical eye, perhaps the scars of a battle-hardened fighter, the lion was surrounded on each side by six screens acting as windows into a circus themed world filled with temptations and mysteries in equal measure; menacing tigers, hallways lined with red velvet, dungeons loaded with machinery, sparks of sharp electric lightening and many more intriguing images were revealed as the night progressed.
Before I could stop myself I had imagined an entire action adventure video game playing out in those windows, with the heroes of the game battling through the levels to emerge triumphant on the balcony at the top of the stage.
“Between the music and me, is what the world doesn’t see…”
At 5.20pm a hush fell across the arena as the crowd waited with baited breath for “The Knockout Circuz Spectacular”. With a mighty roar, the lion commanded the stage to life. Lasers danced, flames jumped and sparkling fireworks leapt in to the air as every element of the production was showcased in full effect.
With fire still burning in its eyes, the lion prepared to welcome the next act to the stage but I needed to venture outside – water and fresh air were calling, as was the smokin’ barbeque of the Hardstyle Kitchen food truck!
I returned to the arena dancefloor in time for the start of Da Tweekaz, who always stand out by miles for me as a Hardstyle act because they have such a spirit of fun about them, which radiates through their music and into the crowd. Don’t forget this was a hot, hot, sunny Sydney afternoon and down at the front of the crowd things were more than a little sweaty but energy levels were high and spirits even higher as fans stomped along to favourites including “Jägermeister”, “The Hitmen” and that very latest version of “Frozen”. It is possible I was screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs too!
That spirit of fun was also in full effect with the many guys raving in costumes including Hawaiian shirts, a cow suit, a grown man dressed as a baby complete with frilly pink bonnet and of course local hero Slendy and his crew getting their festive hakken on in skitz santa suits.
At 8pm, the arena went dark and a simple glow of red light emanated from the centre of the stage; emitted from a beating red heart, the heart of the lion, beating with the power of the life that it would give to the headline act, ‘The Resurrected’. Could it really be, how could this possibly be happening, were we really about to witness a Hardstyle set by… Showtek? Indeed we were and anyone close enough to the stage must surely have seen the look of pure happiness from Wouter (DJ Walt) as he watched thousands of dedicated fans, many of whom would never have seen Showtek play Hardstyle before, going crazy as he dropped all the biggest tunes of Showtek’s early career, sprinkled with some Hardstyle remixes of their newer material.
“Let me take you back, back in the days, the Hardstyle sounds will be kicking the bass…”
After the 90 minute spectacular of Showtek, keeping the ongoing attention of a crowd might seem a tall order, unless of course that order is left in the highly skilled hands of Darren Styles. Raising the tempo while steering largely clear of the time honoured favourites, save for a couple of new edits, Darren Styles showed us where this year’s journey has taken him musically and I’m sure was giving us a teaser of what we can expect from his upcoming headline set with Gammer at HTID Australia.
By the time of the final act, Partyraiser, taking to the stage my feet could dance no more and I was content to stand back and enjoy the phenomenal laser show, as this incredible night drew to a close.
What an amazing end to the Knockout Circuz series! To all those who attended, we hope you enjoyed “The Final Show”!
On Saturday 18th November, boundaries were smashed once again as Q-dance delivered another legendary edition of Qlimax! This year the honour of creating the anthem went to Wildstylez, as Qlimax transformed the GelreDome into a ‘Temple of Light’.
Never ending beaming lasers, lights and fire shows combined to illuminate the elaborate temple stage at the heart of the GelreDome. As dedicated worshippers packed into the arena, our ‘Masters of the Temple’ took to the stage together to commence their rituals. Dressed in black with ceremonial make up and tribal markings, this year’s chosen Qlimax artists bestowed their blessings upon the crowd in the form of the gift of music.
Qlimax – Temple of Light reminded us a lot of the 2009 edition, Nature Of Our Mind, in terms of the production and scenery, mixed with the 2013 experience of Immortal Essence, which had the intense atmosphere of a ritual taking place during which the sorcerers cast their magic across the arena.
For the unlucky people who missed out on Qlimax completely, or those who may have missed some highlights of the show for whatever reason (too many pills perhaps, or fainting after the seventh hey-ho), let us look back upon the performances given by some of our favourite ‘Masters of the Temple’.
After TNT aka Technoboy and Tuneboy opened the show, D-Block & S-Te-Fan surprised everyone by playing the first set and their performance brought back echoes of their shows in days gone by. Opening with “In The Dark”, one of the sickest tunes on their new album “Antidote”, everyone was also expecting some of their classics and especially their Qlimax anthem “Nature of the Mind”, which was of course eventually played and the moment was, as the French say, ‘an absolute bonheur time’.
In the months leading up the event so many people had correctly guessed the identity of this year’s Qlimax anthem creator, and sure enough Q-dance kept us waiting until just a few weeks out before announcing that Wildstylez would be leading us into the Qlimax temple this year.
Taking over the decks from the dynamic duo, Wildstylez jumped on stage and went on to deliver one of the greatest ever solo performances of his career. It was no surprise to anyone when he included a couple of new Headhunterz tracks in his set, including “Destiny”, and “Rescue Me” by Headhunterz & Sound Rush. Project One tracks of course were also in the mix, with “It’s An Edit” and “Luminosity” sending the crowd completely nuts.
It seems like Noisecontrollers may have finally found the heir to his throne, with the talented and eager Atmozfears performing alongside him tonight and even throwing some blasting scratching skills into the set. This fast paced set was an absolute goldmine for those in the crowd who were craving original music and inspirational melodies.
Frequencerz brought us one of their most hectic sets of the year, having been absolutely ruling the scene this year ever since their performance at Defqon.1 and the introduction of their new live act Frequencerz – Stealth Mode. Tonight, Frequencerz played some of their most beloved tunes such as “Wolfpack”, “The Unknown”, “Men of Steel” and “Victory Forever”, in an absolutely brilliant set. We’d like to give a big shout out to Frequencerz for the energy they brought to the stage and the sing-along moments they created with their fans!
Some of the most clever and attentive fans in our community had already guessed that there would be a secret act this year and what a wonderful surprise it was when Phuture Noize took over the booth, turning the GelreDome into a pit of fire! The rising star of Dirty Workz sublabel Anarchy continues to blow our minds with his creativity and showmanship; Phuture Noize is an accomplished professional and his career is most certainly set to continue on the rise!
After the Raw cravings in the crowd had been well and truly satisfied by Phuture Noize, Sub Zero Project and Gunz For Hire, we marched onwards into the last set of the night, N-Vitral. Just as we had witnessed Angerfist do at this same time last year, N-Vitral cast his dark magic and gave us a clear shot of just how exciting that darkness can be. Known for his devastating kicks and gloriously evil live sets, N-Vitral closed Qlimax with a final ritual that seduced us away from the light. N-Vitral rarely misses the chance to deliver a quality set and tonight was no exception!
We also wanted to thank MC Villain for his inspiring role at Qlimax, guiding us through the whole night, spicing things up and fully playing his role of ‘Priest of the Light’!
Thank you Q-dance for another amazing edition of the Qlimax! Once again, we absolutely loved every minute of the night!
Relive Qlimax 2017 memories with this years’ official aftermovie:
The other weekend, the grandest, most illustrious harder styles event was held. Tens of thousands of lively visitors flooded into the GelreDome to witness the ‘Temple of Light.’ Shaping up to be a killer night, one particular artist on the bill who experienced an incredible evening was this years’ anthem-maker Wildstylez.
Read all about Qlimax, his new life as ‘Daddystylez’ and much more in this exclusive interview!
P.S. We’ll be giving away one signed copy of this years’ Qlimax CD, so be sure to head to our Facebook page to enter!
– Hey Joram, great to have you back on Alive at Night. First up, how are you feeling today?
Thanks! I’m feeling great today. I’m still buzzing from Qlimax, what a great night!!
– Almost two weeks ago, the ‘world cup’ of Hard Dance was held, aka, Qlimax and you had the honour to headline the night with your anthem ‘Temple of Light.’ For you, what did this year’s theme mean?
Creating the Qlimax anthem has been a big honour for me; I feel privileged and fulfilling this task was the missing piece of the puzzle. Qlimax has been the biggest and best Hardstyle event since the very beginning and performing there the other weekend was an experience that I will never forget!
– How did you incorporate the theme into your anthem?
That’s a good question. As you probably know, the Wildstylez sound and Qlimax sound are not really alike – Qlimax is quite a dark event and Wildstylez tracks are very euphoric. With that said, it was an exciting challenge to combine these two sounds to a classic Qlimax vibe. Of course, the theme and vocals were a nice guideline to produce the anthem. I think I managed to find the right balance and I’m proud of the result.
– Now, let’s talk about the interesting stuff – how did it feel to be up on that stage performing in front of over 20,000 people?
Words cannot describe the feeling. Although it was already my seventh time at Qlimax, I still wake up with butterflies in my stomach on the day itself. It is so special to stand there in front of the most dedicated crowd in the world. It’s an honour and it means a lot to me!
– Did you get to check out the party afterwards? If so, what were your thoughts on the production and stage this year?
I actually almost stayed to the end! The vibe was amazing and the stage design was surprising but awesome. Qlimax never disappoints and this years’ edition was great once again!
– All in all, what does Qlimax mean to you?
The number one indoor Hardstyle event in the world!
– This year you also mixed the infamous compilation CD. Can you tell us a little more about how you portrayed the event in your mix?
First of all, I think it’s important that the CD is a right reflection of the whole event and this means that it also should include a lot of music of the artists performing there. For instance, I included tracks by Atmozfears, Noisecontrollers and more. Besides that, I have released a lot of Wildstylez and Project One music this year and supporting my buddy Headhunterz is important to me. I think I found the right combination between euphoric, raw and experimental. I hope you guys like it as well!
– This year saw a lot of newbies taking it to the GelreDome. For you, what’s the importance of allowing upcoming talents a spot on the line-up?
The Hardstyle scene is constantly changing and the sound is developing. I think Q-dance did a great job inviting new acts like Sub Zero Project to the line-up. Doing so also keeps it interesting and refreshing for the audience.
– You’re no stranger to the Qlimax stage; does performing at this illustrious event ever get old?
Never!! I can do this over and over again and I will never get used to that special feeling on-stage.
– Alright, in other news. Wildstylez just became ‘Daddystylez’ – congratulations! How’s fatherhood going so far?
It’s great! All the clichés are true, haha and I really love being a dad. He’s a satisfied little man and he helps me to gain a normal rhythm in life. 
– Have you already felt ‘life as you know it’ change since the birth of your son?
Partly, yes. Of course you have a great responsibility, but I still have enough time to work in the studio and I still have my gigs during the weekend. I actually only had one weekend off and that was really great, because of course I had to figure out that whole daddy thing, haha.
– Do you think it’s possible to still maintain a good family life at home with a career that requires a lot of travelling and touring?
Absolutely. I might be off touring in the weekends, but during the week I have enough time to spend with my family.
– Music-wise, aside from the Qlimax anthem, new Project One music has been revealed. How does it feel to have revived this incredibly successful concept from your early days?
I really enjoy working with Headhunterz in the studio. Creatively, we bounce off each other and always feel extremely inspired whenever we team up. So of course, it feels great to work on this new chapter together!
– Before we wrap this interview up, what can we expect from Wildstylez in the coming months?
I cannot tell you too much about it, but I am working on several cool plans and ideas. More info will be revealed soon, so keep your eyes out.
– Finally, think you know the go on this one. But what did you eat for breakfast today?
Brown bread with ‘vlokken’.
Before we wrap things up, we’re giving away ONE Qlimax CD, signed by Wildstylez himself. Wanna win? Jump online, head to our Facebook page and enter the comp. For those wanting to purchase this years’ compilation, you can do so here: https://Qdancecomp.lnk.to/Qlimax2017ec
Huge thanks to Wildstylez for this interview and Be Yourself Music for teeing up this awesome giveaway. Be sure to stay tuned on all things Wildstylez at his socials below.
Knockout Circuz returns to Sydney on Saturday 16th December for an epic final show. With almost all acts on the line up having been announced a few months ago the hype was building up, with one big question still on everyone’s lips – who could possibly be the headline artist, only billed as… “The Resurrected”…?
All has finally been revealed and the Australian rave scene is rejoicing tonight! The name of the act was not even needed in the announcement, just a 17 second video clip with an infamous sound bite and the #FTS hashtag did all the talking.
After this duo’s brief appearance at Defqon.1 in The Netherlands, rumours were flying that maybe, just maybe, HSU Events could persuade the artists to take to the decks one more time for their Australian fans.
Of course if you’re not in Australia….. well I was feeling sorry for you anyway, it’s summer over here you know!
With a 75 minute full Hardstyle set confirmed, featuring not just classics but new music too, this is indeed the ultimate resurrection in Hardstyle history.
If you’re very quick you might just still score a ticket for Knockout Circuz – The Final Show, the last event in the magnificent Knockout Circuz series. Final tickets are now on sale at the links below.
“He descended from the dark skies, to free mankind from tyranny. The king will not bow down, in the face of evil.”
– Radical Redemption
The king of Hardstyle is back with a new album. A stunning 39(!) new tracks are featured on Radical’s new album: The Road to Redemption. This album proves Radical Redemption’s ability to provide both quantity and quality.
Over the years, Radical has developed his style, going through stages of intense euphoria as well as ear-bleeding raw. Radical even released a broad array of Hardcore tracks, working with some of the most notorious and infamous names in the Hardcore scene. However, Radical has always stayed true to his own musical philosophy – the ‘true radical’ sound. When listening to the album, you will be amazed by variety in tracks while staying true to that signature Radical sound design.
Radical Redemption has been a major influence to the Hardstyle scene. Like a lot of you, I have witnessed him grow from small clubs in tiny villages to prime time mainstage and huge international bookings. Even though his entry into the scene was met with some controversy – going as far as being accused of destroying the scene – the following Radical gained was unproportionate. I dare to go as far as to say that Radical arguably has the most dedicated fanbase in Hardstyle at the moment.
Here at Alive at Night HQ, we had an up close and personal listen to ‘The Road of Redemption’. Now, to be completely honest, I’m not really a Radical fan. However, this could only help in attempting to giving an unbiased review. So, with an open mind, a new car sound system, and a shitload of car rides, all tracks on the album have been carefully listened too and professionally reviewed. I would like to share with you some of the tracks I think really stood out from the album.
Paralyzed
Love the atmosphere! And so true. Who else has ever experienced sleep paralysis? Let me tell you, it’s the worst feeling, ever! Radical definitely managed to incorporate a fear factor in this piece of work, since it makes the hairs in my neck stand straight up every time I hear that melody. In my opinion not only one of the best tracks of the album, but one of the best tracks Radical Redemption has produced ever!
Exorcism
Now this is the very essence of drugs music. What a merciless banger. Spawned from the dark side of Radical, this monstrosity caught me by surprise. It’s hovering somewhere between a Hardcore and Industrial Hardstyle track, with some experimental elements. It also reminds me a bit of the older Radical Redemption tracks like ‘Helpless’ and ‘Brutal 3.0’. Definitely one of Radical’s more experimental tracks.
The Radical Dome
I mean come-on, it starts with Star Wars! The Star Wars influence is very strong in this track, but the final product is awesome! Who would have thought that a Star Wars theme and Radical Redemption sound design would mash so well together? Here we can clearly hear Radical at work; filling up the whole frequency spectrum from the lowest frequencies to the highest perceivable by the human ear.
Only Bass
This track is simply amazing. I love the mechanical vocal and the whole atmosphere around the track. The sound design is incredible, and I always think it very daring when an artist dedicates a part of a track to only kicks and kick-rolls. However, Radical does a pretty good job in the first part of the track in this. Now the second part is where it’s at. Dark and creepy, like in the old Minus is More days. Love the creepy synths and melody. More of this please!
Undercover – With Warface
Even though at first glance simplistic, this track really started to grow on me. I honestly don’t know what it is that makes it so addictive to listen to though. When the highly anticipated collaboration between Radical and Warface was announced, I was just as psyched and excited as everybody else. However, when I listened to Undercover for the first time, I was a little bit disappointed at the result. Until I started to listen to it again a couple of times. Now I just had to put it in this list, because not a day goes by that I don’t listen at least one time to Undercover while screaming “P-P-Put It Undercover!”, using my arms to signify every kick roll from 2.00 – 2.02. Awesome track!
The Saviour – With High Voltage
Oh yeah, Radical Redemption as I like to see Radical Redemption. This collaboration with High Voltage is everything that I want to be from these two titans working together. It’s dark, it’s rough, and it’s epic. It’s like Radical is trying to pass divine judgment upon all of us. It has some resemblance to tracks like ‘The Cross of Blood’ and ‘Gods Child’, which are a couple of Radical’s better tracks in my opinion.
All in all:
Wrapping everything up, there are some real pearls in Radical Redemption’s new album: The Road to Redemption. I think we can all agree that Radical is a pure mastermind in what he’s doing, and that he is a beast on stage – a true Rockstar. However, I do want to point out that I think it’s a shame that to me, it sounds like Radical is more and more appealing to the – what I like to call – Gangster rap side of Hardstyle.
The typical ‘Fuck me’ and ‘Motherfucker’ are found frequently on the album, and for me, that’s a minus. I do want to leave on a positive note though: I think it is simply incredible for a human being to be able to deliver such an amazing output with the time that has been given, and I think we all should pay our respects to the man that delivered us the true Radical sound. The Radical Redemption!
Stream ‘The Road to Redemption’ on Spotify – HERE
A little over one week ago, the apex of Hardstyle events took place: Qlimax. Often referred to as the mother of all Hardstyle parties, Qlimax has built a reputation among hardheads across the planet. Dedicated fans from every corner of the world are drawn to the GelreDome. Partygoers choose to leave everything behind for a weekend and to completely immerse themselves in the magic that Qlimax offers. The best artists that the Hardstyle scene currently has to offer, a spectacular show, and usually an amazing atmosphere is what defines Qlimax. It’s obvious that a spot on the golden lineup of Qlimax is very much desired by artists, and is perceived as something that must be deserved by fans.
Months before the actual event takes place, the Hardstyle forums blow up with discussions about the expected lineup for that year’s edition.
I know it’s a lot of fun to speculate, but let’s change the scope a little bit here. Instead of guessing the lineup of one certain edition of one certain event, why don’t we speculate about what the next generation has to offer?
Let’s discuss which artists, in the span of… let’s say… the next 5 years, will dominate the mainstages. Who will be the next headliners for the coming years?
Below are some of the names that pop in my mind.
D-Sturb
This guy’s name is on everybody’s lips these days. This exceptional musical wonder is taking the both the House and the Hardstyle scene by storm. Within the Hardstyle scene, he is often referred to as the “King of Kickrolls.” Just like Sub Zero Project, his sound design is off the charts. His tunes shine with a unique drive that only D-Sturb can execute. In addition to being a true entertainer, D-Sturb is also very sociable (go Jorrit). Also, gaining wide support in both euphoric and raw, and experimenting with Hardcore, it’s only a matter of time before we will see D-Sturb close down the mainstages of the biggest events in Hardstyle.
Act of Rage
The little brother in the Minus is More clan. Freakishly tall and possessing one serous bass-face makes Act of Rage a true ‘mean machine’ on stage. His tracks are packed with energy, his kicks are phat and distorted and his melodies make you jump around like crazy person, whether you want to or not. Over the years, his sound design skills have grown and so has his fan-base. Being close friends with Radical Redemption also must help with conquering that spot on the mainstage and securing it for the years to come.
Sound Rush
The euphoric oriented twins that had the amazing honour of hosting Hard With Style for more than half a year (from episode 60 to episode 68) and their sets are usually packed with the best of euphoric and early hardstyle has and had to offer. With respect to the original Hardstyle sound, Sound Rush is sure to bring transcending melodies, old-school vocals and a healthy dose of euphoric energy. With support of the likes like Headhunterz, Sound Rush is sure to catch prime time mainstage in the coming years.
Phuture Noize
Perhaps a little odd to include Phuture Noize, as he has already performed on numerous mainstages during his career and was the surprise act at Qlimax, however, I feel like he is regarded more as a borderline mainstage artist. He’s already seen the top but hasn’t fully claimed his position there yet. Perhaps because I think his sound design is out of this world, I feel like he could reach greater heights than where he is momentarily at. His tracks usually convey a deeper meaning, as a philosophical piece made of sound. There is no doubt in my mind that Phuture Noize will become one of the most requested artists in due time.
Devin Wild
A true born talent, and one of the youngest artists the scene has ever seen. Even though seemingly euphoric oriented, this little powerhouse definitely knows how to pack a punch. As energetic as his music is, so is our teenage superstar on stage! Being able to produce high quality music in combination with the ability to be an entertainer on stage is a must when reaching for the top.
MYST
One of Nightbreed’s finest, MYST is a force to be reckoned with. Earth-shattering kicks combined with epic melodies are his trademark. His tracks are the definition of Euphoric Hardstyle on steroids. MYST is one of those artists that when his song gets played, you just know it was his. Sporting such a demanding and well-rounded style, it’s hard not to imagine him rising amongst the stars. However, in my humble opinion, he could be more of an entertainer on stage.
Clockartz
One of the most diverse Hardstyle acts I have ever witnessed. This Italian duo is at the creative apex of our time, having a tendency with presenting out-of-the-box elements in their tracks and being true performers on stage. They recently started their own label and have sent out an open invitation to talent from all music styles to bring their experiments to the table. These guys are also absolute legends and love a good beer (or 10); we’ve caught them many times floating around festival terrain, having a great time. Mark my words: these guys are going to be big.
Sub Zero Project
Talking about Qlimax, these guys actually made the line-up! A serious accomplishment, especially when classified as a Raw artist. Of course, we all have seen how they have flourished in the last couple of years but wow… who would have expected that? These guys introduced a completely different take on Hardstyle, and it worked incredibly, being arguably the fastest rising act in Hardstyle ever. Their sound design is next level, they are true performers, and they are backed up by some big names in the scene in both euphoric and raw! Believe me, they will be back on that Qlimax lineup.
