For her latest release on Hammerhead, Kilbourne shows again that Hardcore does not need to be straight forward to work out – it just needs a vision. With seven explicitly odd tracks the EP dives into the weirder Hardcore territories. Some tracks are more challenging than others, but all in all the release leaves the stamped-out paths of contemporary Hardcore. This is another strange yet diverse EP that might be of interest for any person that searches for new input or is bored with the current state of the Hardcore scene. Not saying that the scene is boring in general, […]

Despite a sad decline in decent Hardcore, this release is good example of how banging Industrial can sound even with a contemporary sound design. “Industrial Convolution Vol. 1” by Gathering Storm is a quality three track EP that already hints at more to come in the future. The aspiring producer who already had some tracks released on Prototypes shows great appetite for distortion in his productions, no matter what’s the tempo. Industrial Convolution Vol.1 [PR123] by Gathering Storm

Ok top be honest, it is always a tough challenge to describe what’s going on with the Suck Puck compilations. But this time, it’s basically impossible to come up with a solid review. “SOOTH 01” is a new assortment of only the strangest music you can imagine. Don’t expect to understand anything going on here, but you should be able to feel it. There is a lot to discover that once more questions even the broadest concepts of music. This is an experimental glitchspace that knows no boundaries any longer. Most tracks feature dreamy, even magic atmospheres that sound familiar, […]

Buckle up, we are entering weirdo territory. It comes to no surprise that Somatic Responses acidified the core again with their latest release “Memory Audit”. Well actually, this release was only done by Paul Healy according to the release page. Nonetheless, the release has the same outstanding quality as usual. If you feel like entering a world full of acid and strange melodies, this is a good way to start your day. The album features manifold tracks that cover a wide range of musical styles. Of course, it is still hard to come up with words for this music, but […]

Over the course of only a few years, Offish Productions has become a great source for hard-hitting, technical Drum and Bass. The label not only manages to put out high-quality content all time, it also reaches out for new talents and offers them a platform. Acid Lab is the newest member on the label. This very talented producer clearly knows how to chop apart breaks and rearrange them properly. The style is futuristic and sinister, a bit tribalistic, but also reminiscent of Drum and Bass from a long-forgotten past. The EP offers relatively calm and dreamy Halfstep, pushing Techstep but […]

The debut EP by Erratic Engine on EXE Project is an absolute slammer of a hard Drum and Bass release. It is rare that an EP leaves such an impact. The 3-tracker is obviously a great homage to a long forgotten time, when this was the preferred sound on the dancefloors. The production value is simply amazing. The drums are banging, the basses are booming and the atmospheres are haunting! But it is also the vocal power of Crystal that lifts the second track “Colour” to new heights. Everything sounds so fresh, even though the tracks obviously trigger the listener’s […]

“Aleister’s Meer” by Zeuge came out last month on Defunkt. As you may have noticed, his style developed a lot in the recent years. This album here is a good example on where his deconstructive approach leads to. The abstract piece of art surely discovers territories unknown to mankind so far. It features glitchy experiments that do not need structure – at least in a common understanding of that term. But there is of course more to it. Some tracks heavily rely on acidic soundscapes that pulsate to the rhythm of the universe, while another just enjoys the ‘reinterpretation’ of […]

Here’s another recommendation for the breakbeat lovers out there. LXC rereleased a ton of material from 2001 to 2008. “Connewoodz” is a disturbing portrait of a long-gone era of Leipzig’s – or more precisely Connewitz’ – break-heavy history. Again, this EP shows the versatility of an artist who dedicated his life to drum breaks and heavy basslines. While the tracks mostly fit into the realm of Drum and Bass and Jungle quite well, there is also a special vibe to all of them. It’s the oddness that makes the release stand out – and not easy to categorize. You can’t […]

The most recent release by Grey Meta features a nice selection of remixes of Anorak’s “Reformulated” EP on the label from 2023. All 7 tracks follow their individual direction that span a wide range of music. This audio excursion into rough territory includes Breakcore, Hardcore, Jungle, Techno and lots of other genres that can barely be defined. With tracks by DFZD, Dolphin, Scheme Boy, Jacob, Technoist, MacheeeN Boi and Anorak himself, you know that you can’t go wrong. Each track features its own characteristics, but also manages to draw a clear line to the originals. And of course, the breaks […]

After so many years, Deformer still delivers. His latest EP “Instruments of Torture” is another statement that shows that his creativity simply knows no boundaries. For the first two tracks he teamed up with the Death Metal vocalist David Vincent from Vltimas and I Am Morbid and presents an outstanding blend of both worlds. The s´other tracks are not less intersting. “Everything is Dead” features is quite catchy, while “The Messiah Complex” celebrates hitting vinyl with this EP. As usual the production is excellent. Just listen to these incredible drums, they sound so fucking good. Instruments of Torture by DEFORMER

Who would have expected this to happen? Forbidden Society actually dropped a brand-new hard Drum and Bass album. As the name already suggests ‘To the Threshold Part 2’ is a worthy successor and a nice surprise for all the fans who wished for more of his older style. The sound design is really close to the original and you can instantly recognize Forbidden Society’s handwriting. Another super loud album that clearly states what hard Drum and Bass stands for. With a total of 13 tracks there’s a lot to hear. A highlight on the album is surely Darkhold. This amen […]

This free release by Nanonstorm on The Third Movement features three remixes of his own tracks. All of them have their distinctive style and show the versatility of Nanostorm’s productions. The I-Can't-Believe-They're-Free Remixes by Nanostorm

There are only few people out there who can disassemble their breaks like Christoph de Babalon. But it’s of course not only the breaks. As usual, everything sounds organic and thoughtfully put together. ‘No Favors’ is an unmatched record with uncountable layers of breakbeats, sound- and noisescapes, and of course haunting melodies and rhythms. The flow of the record is unique. A great release that really sets the tone for more adventures into darkness. Each track carries its distinct vibe and thus create sinister atmospheres you’ve never heard of before. The whole EP feels like a cozy jacket of nothingness […]

There’s usually not too much to say about a 1-track release. But on the other hand, this track has more storytelling than some 4-track releases. Sova’s recent release on Reer is extremely well-produced, the sound design is on point and it has everything else contemporary hardcore needs. However, it’s the buildup and the atmosphere that makes the track stick out. The track is developing constantly and manages to stay interesting all the time. Love Me by SOVA

Right after our interview with Mathlovsky, his album “Art Must Die For The Sake Of Profit” released about a month ago. If you haven’t read the interview yet, we highly recommend to do so, but if you’re just here for the music, that’s fine too. The new album is split into two parts (both available on one cassette) and features two conceptually very different sides. “Abraxas“ is a deep dive into gloomy soundscapes. This ambient release is just as dark as it gets and offers a lot for people that are not primarily looking for kicks or percussion. [HOLxx9] ART […]

Every once in a while, there is a release that simply sticks out. Here, it is not too difficult to see why. Starving Insect’s latest release on PRSPCT walks along a more holistic path than most hardcore producers. “Blind Idiot God” is an artistic statement that contains several layers of horror combined. All 4 tracks rely heavily on a dark, industrial, synth-heavy musical background. They simply sound outstanding and showcase once more the talent of Starving Insect. A very emotional trip into a realm of darkness that has not been revealed until now. He’s pushing hardcore into a direction that […]

By now we all know that Enduser couldn’t make it to our party in Leipzig, but on the bright side he is busy with tons of music projects. Recently he released a 2 tracker with – you guessed it – very technical, hard-hitting drum and bass. The EP keeps a very moody and melancholic vibe throughout both tracks and kinda also sets the tone for this time of the year. Where I Found You / Facemask by enduser Enduser and Nowan also released another 2 track EP the same day. However, this one is actually the teaser for Nowan’s upcoming […]

The already third full album by Tripped features 10 solid bangers which are not restricted to contemporary hardcore at all. On the other hand, the album is as hardcore as it gets. The kickdrum design draws back to the old-school, while the sound design is classic Tripped style. With a ton of ultra heavy synth lines and hectic loops, you can get easily get hooked on the sound. The collaborations/remixes with Doormouse, Rabbeat and Celsius are also worth mentioning, adding another layer of insanity to this release. If you want to learn more about the album and how it came […]

Another unbelievable Praxis release just came in recently. The album by Noirodyn is really great and shines in all its glory. The vibe throughout the whole piece is so damn good. You can feel the roughness in every single second, though at the same time you can always enjoy its slower pace. While many releases on this blog deal with heavy kickdrum assaults, this release stands out due to its unmatched flow. Everything is dark but so approachable, the beats just keep pushing and while they are not hard as nails, they are consistently groovy as hell. The tracks are […]

Failed Units never fails to provide extraordinary odd music in a way no one else does. Aulic Veil came up with an EP that is hard to define with common concepts for electronic music. Luckily, it does not matter what it is, instead we can simply focus on the unmatched sound of the release. The soundscapes are dreamy, but twisted and dismembered at the same time. But, no matter how odd it gets, you can always find something that helps you feel the vibe. Rescue & Research Pt. 5: Aulic Veil by Aulic Veil

Again, the Silence strikes with a deadly and dystopic EP. After their phenomenal impact with their album, the latest EP finally features 4 new tracks. They basically continue where the album stopped. The soundscapes and structures are similar, but are also crafted with the same precision and ear for detail as before. The Breaking of the First Silence by The Silence

Entering the scene like a bulldozer, Reer throws a compilation at us that features everything contemporary hardcore has to offer. The kicks kick as hard as they can and the artists showcase a very distinct style of hard-hitting industrial. If you want to see how far you can push a signal, then this compilation is a quite persuasive example of hardcore engineering. Since this is only the beginning of the label, we are curious about what they will bring in the future.   Industrial Revolution 1.0 by REER

The latest Fuk The Borders compilation is surely a big one. It’s hard to pin down what’s on there exactly, but it’s worth discovering. Without a doubt it’s an excellent collection of super strange music. When people say that music is boring nowadays they clearly have not heard of this stuff. For 9€ it is also a bargain!   Fuk The Borders 11 by Suck Puck Compilations

The Relic delivers with “ARK VII: Summon The Demon” an EP that perfectly fits the artcore sound. The samples, the synths, the kicks, it’s all there and shines in all its glory. The atmospheres sound amazing and really carry the vibe. Especially the vocal samples give the EP its final touches. ARK VII: Summon The Demon by The Relic

As you may know, Kilbourne recently launched her hardcore/techno label Hammerhead in January. The label is as uncompromising as her music, but does not feature only her own works. The latest release by RABBeAT is an excellent addition to Hammerhead’s discography. The third EP on the label envisions a new chapter of industrial hardcore that somehow traces back to the old sound we all crave. On the other hand, it develops into a new direction while keeping its core primarily industrial. But most importantly, it’s not cheesy or formulaic at all. Quite the contrast, you can feel that this guy […]

The latest EP on Madback by RZVX is clearly not for the faint of heart. The 4 track EP features also a collaboration with label boss Tripped and a remix. All tracks hit hard and seem to be made to cause severe damage on any dancefloor in sight. No more words needed to describe this madness! Tears In The Forest EP (MADINCH006) by RZVX

The next super strange release is by Acidic Male and Rotor Militia on Double Cross. As before the label keeps pushing sound somewhere you’d never expect it to be. But it fits neatly wherever it is. The third installment on the label turns into unchartered territory. The first two tracks on the A-side were written by Acidic Male and feature compositions that are as far away from the average that they cannot be even classified anymore. On the flip Rotor Militia equally challenges the listener with rhythms that broke out of every grid. The flow of both tracks is amazing. […]

This is clearly another release that is highly recommended to every breakbeat and weirdness lover out there. The release is already quite old but has not lost any of its charm. It’s a crusty rough estimation of how far human development might go. In the end it’s just noisy broken shit from the past, polished for the future. But it’s lovely, just trust us here. On the surface you’d tend to call it breakcore, but in the end it’s way more than that. It freely borrows from a large variety of cultural artifacts, seamlessly interwoven into a grid of distorted […]

For some reason the aesthetics of chiptune music along with crushed breakbeats create a very peculiar vibe. Of course, this somehow always triggers some nostalgia, be it from video game soundtracks or early rave records. This grittiness has been captured so perfectly with the “Chipbreak Alliance” compilation by the Sydney City Chiptune Ministries. While the name alone means serious business, so does also the compilation itself. With a compilation of this size, you wouldn’t believe that there are so many good tracks on it. The range of tracks is wide and every one of them features a ton of breaks. […]

Well, this time, you can not only get your hands on some decent tunes, moreover you can get a whole sample pack on top for free. Actually, the EP was originally released 2 years ago on Dancefloor Impact Research and now has been rereleased along with the samples on Somatic Responses’ own bandcamp account. All 3 original tracks by Somatic Responses are as usual unmatched. Especially convincing are also the additional 3 remixes by FFF, 1clap and Enduser. Each and every track on this EP delivers a rich and colorful palette of sounds. The whole release sticks out due to […]