TuneLab
Marlon Hoffstadt
This is the sound of a function one system being punished for its sins at 6am. This anonymous hard trance onslaught exists for one purpose: to induce a state of pure, gurn-faced euphoria through sheer auditory force, and frankly, we respect the commitment. The vibe is a classic, no-frills rave—strobe lights cutting through haze, a crowd locked in a relentless pogo, united by the shared delusion that they can dance this fast forever. Technically, it's a bulldozer. With an average BPM of 152 and a crushing reliance on the 12A key, this set is engineered for maximum energy output.
The low-end (0.61) is a continuous, pounding four-four kick, the mid-range (0.30) is a searing wall of acid lines and hoover synths, and the high-end (0.09) adds just enough piercing melody to keep it from being pure noise. Mixing is fast and functional, often using quick cuts and slam transitions that suit the music's aggressive, peak-time nature. Harmonic shifts are dramatic, jumping between keys like 3B and 5A to maintain a sense of shocking, adrenaline-fueled progression. The tracklist is a treasure chest of hard trance and hard house obscurities. Klubbheads' 'Kickin' Hard' remix is a perfect, pounding opener.
The inclusion of 2 Unlimited's 'No Limit' is a genius, cheesy curveball that sends the crowd into a frenzy. Andy Farley's own 'Out of Control' is a definitive anthem of the genre, while 'Beef Jerky' with BK is a brutal, peak-time weapon. CRS's 'Whisky Roll' and Question Mark's 'The Birds' are deeper cuts that show a real digger's knowledge. The journey is a relentless ascent: it kicks off with the thunderous 'Kickin' Hard', builds to a dizzying peak with the punishing rhythms of 'Beef Jerky', and finally, mercifully, concludes on that same track's final, shuddering note.