Algemeen Hardcore Topic

Ketacore Records
January 1st 2014 release: BEHEMOTHS FROM THE ZOO OF ABORTIONS - Ketacore Records presents six acid doom tracks by Fifth Era plus remixes of each Behemoth (by lingouf, Facehoover, Crepuscular, Tonal Verges, Deadhead and Utamoh Thumo). Comes in a fully printed digipack, containing a hand numbered and stamped vinyl-look cdr.
9 december om 18:50

http://ketacore.com/

The year 2014 has already started, but as I am a late boomer, I'll sum the year 2013 up a bit late. My friend Mark Verhoeckx wrote a great wall of text in Partyflocks 'Algemeen Hardcore Topic', with which I pretty much agreed with, so many things have already been said (in dutch though ). I'll spice up my text with some things he already said. Still, this is my text, and not all of these opinions are also his.

So...2013 was the year of albums from names like Mindustries, Endymion, Deathmachine, The Outside Agency, Negative A, Rude Awakening, Nosferatu, Embrionyc, DJ Hidden etc., with as my own highlight of the year: the masterpiece of an album 'Between The Candle And The Star' by in my opinion the skillful artist Hardcore has to offer: Ophidian! My top 50 contains as much as 10 tracks from him (3 of them are remixes). He is also coming to Finland this February, so I'm quite hyped atm Another succesful artist in my list is Nosferatu; who released his album Strength earlier on this year; with 7 tracks (2 remixes). Not all of my favourite artists are represented that much, like DJ Promo, The Outside Agency, D-Passion, Hellsystem and Tha Playah, as they have had bigger projects the year before, worked on other things or are even coming up with albums most likely next year (at least Promo and Tha Playah). The Outside Agency's album 'The Dogs Are Listening' in 2012 made such a big impact on me, that I'm still overwhelmed by it, and haven't enjoyed their newer tracks as much as the ones on the album. Except for the banger of an remix of 'Raging In The Dancehall' of course.

'Raging In The Dancehall' is a valid bridge to my next subject: Endymion. Like them or not, they made a good move by going to Neophyte Records. Their music nowadays fits much better there, and they have given some great talents space to release on Enzyme Records. The hate on them on forums, Facebook and YouTube has reached ridiculous levels quite a few times. But that often happens, when artists change direction or just do their own thing. I haven't liked all they made, but there have been a few tracks I really adored, like: 'Make Some Noise' (the energy and details!), 'Raging In The Dancehall' and Progress.

Another movement forwarding in 2013 has been the comeback of the slower mainstream. And I like that a lot! As long as not everything is made in that style. It has still just been like a track or sometimes two on releases, except for the cool EP 150 bpm from Art Of Fighters vs. Meccano Twins, for example. As long as producers remember to keep the hardness and roughness in the music. Slower doesn't mean softer, even though releasing some softer tracks once in a while doesn't hurt and can be freshening. Also the music from the so called Millennium Hardcore' era has found it's place on parties, and as a lover of the sound, I'm more than pleased by that.

Speaking of records labels, my label of the year has to be Enzyme Records, after the domination of The Third Movement in my few annual charts. Enzyme was really good in 2012 too already, and after a couple of years and the upcoming Lunatic & Miss Hysteria, Triax and Pandorum (not much this year though), it's my favourite label again. The Third Movement had a great year too, with the albums from Mindustries and Deathmachine (still haven't listened to the Rude Awakening album yet). But those were such albums that I have to listen several times before pointing out great single tracks, as they're more albums that have certain storylines. From the more industrial labels, I have to say I'm still a Dark. Descent. & Genosha Recordings fanboy of course. I've been so overwhelmed by Ophidian's album, that I still haven't found the time to listen to Embrionyc's and Cubic Nomad's albums properly. I must get them and do it soon!

As expected, Angerfist was again the artist dominating the Hardcore top 100 chart. Quite an achievement with only a handful of tracks this year! Even though the dude has such a fanbase, it's not surprising me. A track like 'Street Fighter' is destined to make the crowd go crazy (me too!) and From The Blackness has the good old vibe I adore. Also have to give him credit for giving not so mainstream artists space on his releases and forwarding the Crossbreed sound to the masses. There's a big release coming soon already.

Wavolizer already gave us some hints of his talents in making monster 'almost hardcore' tracks and now he finally got a release on Noisj.nl, and it rocked! His sets are also something people should check, with a good blend of proper hardstyle and our hardcore bangers. Also remember to check his '99 Insights of The Outside Agency' mix.

From the releases, I think my favourites of the year have been the two EP's from Lunatic & Miss Hysteria on Enzyme and the 'Already Dead' EP from AK Industry.

This time I decided to make a top 50 list, and I also made a playlist on Spotify. I don't really use Spotify myself; it's mostly my daughter who does ; but maybe someone would like to take a listen. Only 30 (Sacerdos Vigilia – Cortex Driller) and 21 (The Outside Agency & Current Value – They're Human (Listen To Me VIP)) are missing. I only picked tracks that are released in full length on EPs or artist albums

Here's my list:

01 Ophidian & Minckz - The Void (Fade)
02 Nosferatu with Tha Playah - Fade To Nothing
03 AK Industry feat. Billy S. - Monster (Ophidian remix)
04 Endymion & The Viper feat. Feral Is Kinky - Raging In The Dancehall (The Outside Agency remix)
05 Amnesys - The Purest
06 Ophidian & Ruffneck - Life Of Meaning
07 Lunatic & Miss Hysteria - Lead Dropping
08 Ophidian & Tapage - Creating The Future
09 Tymon - Darkroom Music
10 Endymion - Make Some Noise
11 Tymon & Negative A – Extrasensory Perception
12 Nosferatu – Dr. Shitkickaz
13 Lunatic & Miss Hysteria - First Contact
14 Advanced Dealer - Fight For Liberty
15 Miss Hysteria – Particle Physics (Ophidian remix)
16 Ophidian & Tha Playah – Illusions
17 Cubic Nomad & Embrionyc feat. Emma Susanne – Aural Waves
18 Endymion & The Viper feat. Feral Is Kinky – Raging In The Dancehall (Original mix)
19 AK Industry – Whitewalkers (Mindustries remix)
20 Meccano Twins & Art of Fighters - The Dark Universe
21 The Outside Agency & Current Value – They're Human (Listen To Me VIP)
22 Knightvision – Who Is It? (Nosferatu remix)
23 Art of Fighters vs. Nico & Tetta – Restart the Party
24 Nosferatu - Hate Me Like A Pro
25 Ophidian – End The Earth II
26 Endymion & Ophidian – Destination Underground
27 Art of Fighters – Resurrection (feat. Mello Bondz)
28 Promo – Life From The Other Side (Ophidian remix)
29 Furyan & Neophyte – Precious Pain
30 Sacerdos Vigilia – Cortex Driller
31 Promo - Overrated
32 D-Passion - Devil
33 Wavolizer – Undetected
34 Deathmachine – Introspective Future
35 AK Industry - Already Dead
36 Triax - Harvester Of Souls
37 Nosferatu – Strength
38 Endymion – Progress
39 Lunatic & Miss Hysteria – Creatures
40 Art Of Fighters - Fuck You!
41 Cemon Victa – Just Hate To Speak
42 Ophidian - The Rain
43 Endymion & Pandorum feat. Frankie McCoy – Under Your Skin
44 DJ Hidden – Einstein
45 Mindustries - Reclaim
46 Nosferatu with Lunatic & Miss Hysteria – Technology Exceeds
47 Wedlock – Evolution Theory (Nosferatu remix)
48 Angerfist – From The Blackness
49 Promo & D-Passion - Deepest Fear
50 AniMe – Cracks


And here's the link (from 50 to 1):
http://open.spotify.com/user/1152058997/playlist/6UYP8xPbZBW5lEcoeW9EwE

Let's hope this year will brings us some more great music!