TuneLab
Ben Nicky
Tomorrowland Belgium 2018
Ben Nicky's Tomorrowland Belgium 2018 set is a turbocharged trip through trance's past, present, and harder edges, a welcome shot of adrenaline for those who find the mainstage too polite. The vibe is one of dedicated, almost spiritual fervor in the crowd, a hive mind chasing those soaring melodies and pounding kicks. This is high-BPM territory, averaging 139.7 but frequently pushing into the 170s, with the 12A key providing a luminous, uplifting harmonic core. The energy balance is low-end driven at 0.5104, ensuring a relentless, four-on-the-floor momentum. Mids at 0.3938 carry the epic pads and vocal chops, while highs at 0.0952 are carefully managed to avoid ear fatigue during the extended journeys.
It's a mixing style that favors long, emotional builds and explosive, cascading drops. The crate dig is a treasure trove for trance enthusiasts. The opening 'Warrior' is a statement of intent: hard, driving, and unyielding. The bootleg of ATB's '9PM' by Maurice West is a genius blend of classic melody and modern power. Ayla's iconic tune gets a respectful yet massive update via Ben Nicky & Luke Bond's remix.
Throwing in a curveball like Skream's 'You Know, Right?' adds a moment of dubstep-influenced heaviness. The closing with the Airscape remix of Delerium's 'Silence' is a perfect, timeless bookend. The journey launches with the militant energy of 'Warrior', traverses peaks of euphoria and harder styles, and finally ascends into the celestial pads of 'Silence', a classic finale for the true believers.