Ryan Biggs is a name few would recognize, and for a reason! Most know him as Delete, one of the biggest raw hardstyle artists out right now. DJ and producer, this Aussie has been involved in the rawstyle scene since its inception in the early 2000s. His unique signature, original sounds and inventive take on raw hardstyle has made Delete one of the biggest names in the industry!
Starting as an underground artist that flew under the radar for most of his career, he is now building a name for himself as one of the forces to reckon with. It’s in 2013, after moving to The Netherlands that he seriously gets hurled in the raw hardstyle industry. He releases three winner tracks: Ghetto, Dismissed and Level and rapidly gains an important fan-base, not only in The Netherlands, but in all Europe.
His popularity is mostly due to his critically-acclaimed rough and grinding beats that changed from the more conventional sounds of raw hardstyle and proved good enough to secure him a spot in the elite.
Without further ado, let’s discover 5 devastating Delete tracks. We promise you won’t be disappointed!
The World Is Yours:
If this track doesn’t inspire you to pursue your dreams, we don’t know what would. As soon as it starts, you heard the words “You could do anything. The world is yours!” But what’s more mesmerizing here is the melody, at the same time soft and raw. You’ll start dancing to this without even feeling it, like it just happened to us!
Dismissed Again:
This track has the signature move of Delete all over it. It doesn’t disappoint, and you know that once you hear it, the party will be on fire! Just imagine this being played live and start saving for Delete’s next show!
Funk:
The funk is alive and well! This track is true to its name and will make you dance like a madman (which isn’t bad at all, we encourage that!)
Just Do It:
Yes, this is definitely Shia LaBoeuf’s voice in this track. So, as he said, don’t let your dreams be dreams, just do it! DANCE!
Fatal:
This collaboration between Delete and Deetox truly is a killer (fatal, killer, see what we did here? Yeah, we like making puns too). Starting strong from the beginning, it just gets harder and faster as it goes. You can understand the true meaning of raw hardstyle after listening to this track.
Located now in The Netherlands, Delete is making a name for himself on the European rawstyle scene. His raw, unique sounds seduced more than one raw hardstyle fan, and since he moved to the country of raves and hardstyle, he has been busy with gigs every other day of the week.
For more info about Delete, check out his Facebook page:
Filippo Calgani, or DJ Mad Dog, started his hardcore music career at the age of 16 in his home town with a group called “Hardcore Terrorists”. In 2000, Filippo decided to start a new project with Traxtorm Records under the name DJ Mad Dog, churning out hundreds of hits including singles, Eps, and compilations with other hardcore artists such as Nosferatu, Noize Suppressor and Tommyknocker. Because of his versatility within the hardcore genre, Mad Dog has performed at multiple hardcore festivals including Thunderdome and Masters of hardcore.
5 Awesome tracks:
Disorder
Released in May 2006, “Disorder” is one of DJ Mad Dog’s most popular tracks to date. Anyone new to the genre will be drawn in by the track’s energy and DJ Mad Dog’s raw, hardcore talent.
So What About The…?
Released the same time as “Disorder”, the #2 track by Mad Dog “So What About The…?” will take what you may or may not know about DJ Mad Dog and multiply it times ten. This track takes you on an adrenaline roller coaster that you’ll want to ride over and over again.
357 Bitches
Track #3 takes us back a year for DJ Mad Dog, dropped in April 2005. His talent and versatility shines through and shows hardcore fans what he’s capable of. If this track doesn’t leave you wanting more, then listen to it again.
Welcome Down
Track #4 dropped at the end of 2006, wrapping up a solid year for DJ Mad Dog having three hard hitting tracks that are sure to get the dancefloor shaking and moving. “Welcome Down” has a ferocious double timing beat that will keep you coming back for more.
The Down
Track #5 is last on this list because there’s a chance it’ll raise your blood pressure to a dangerous level. “The Down” is an intense track that doesn’t quit and won’t let you break for a drink, so make sure you’re hydrated before hitting the floor when this track comes on!
DJ Mad Dog is a force to be reckoned with in the hardcore scene. His tracks don’t care how you’re feeling and he certainly doesn’t hold your hand when entering this world of energetic, pulse raising music. His ability to force your body to move using nothing but sounds and innovations is a testament to his talents. No one looking to get into the genre should overlook DJ Mad Dog, but he won’t let you because like his music, he won’t quit and there’s no way he can be ignored.
Straight out of Italy, Art of Fighters have been bringing their particular flavor of hardcore music for nearly 2 decades. The Art of Fighters history began in the year 1997 and their career took off as one of the fastest in the scene. It was the year 2000 and they were just 18 years old when they jumped onto the biggest European stages playing their first hit tracks ‘Artwork‘ and ‘Earthquake‘ while wearing their trademark: the terrifying hockey mask, similar to the one seen in the movie ‘Friday the 13th’.
Since then, they have been unstoppable: spreading throughout the entirety of Europe, USA, Japan, South America and Australia. They have continued to produce track after track, becoming one of the leading acts of todays Hardcore scene. Creators of anthems for the biggest events as Dominator, Thunderdome and Q-Base, their sound is constantly evolving. A sound which can be described as a unique mix of harmony and technicality, with the rawness and power that you expect to be found in a proper hardcore track.
Art of Fighters
It’s a pleasure to be interviewing you! Could you tell us a little but about yourselves? How do you know each other? Did you always know you wanted to be DJs?
Ciao America, we are Luca and Cristian and we are Art of Fighters! We are producers from Italy, land of good food, good people and good music (in my personal opinion). (Cristian) I have know Luca since I was a kid, we grew up together as neighbours and we spent all the childhood together. I know him since 30years, it’s my fourth brother, even if he is from another mother.
Can you tell me a little bit about the story behind you’re DJ name? How did you come up with the name ‘Art of Fighters’?
At the time we sent our first demo to The Stunned Guys our name was “Armageddon”. It was a cool one, around 15 demos, ranging from 200/400BPM, except a couple of them which were around 150bpm. Long story short, Maxx suggested us to put into the trashcan all the tracks except the slower ones, and to find a new name cause it was a bit overused. We already had our first logo, so we had to pick up something starting with an “A”. Our second choice was “Art of Warriors”, also taken so we went from ‘Warriors’ to ‘Fighters’ and voilà! Years later I realized how important that decision was. We became that name, and now more than ever we are fighting for our Art, which is the music and the message we are trying to spread around the world.
How did Art of Fighters get started? Did you ever expect to grow to the notoriety and recognition you have today?
We started in the basement of my parents house, using nothing else than a Pentium computer and Fast Tracker 2. Why?! I still have no idea, probably bored or just curious about how music was made. And no, never expected to make it a full time job, also because back then (first demos are dated around 1996/97) the dj wasn’t at all a recognized figure, it was more like an outcast. You had to do it just because you liked to. We are lucky that people like what we do and support us. We’ll try to not disappoint them and stay true to our Core.
Tell me a little bit about why you wear masks and their designs? Do they mean anything special?
The idea of the masks comes from the man that taught us how to mix, DJ Tetta. We had to play a b2b set in Switzerland in early 2001 and he came with the idea of jumping on stage with those white masks and white jumpsuits. We loved the idea and kept using them. After few months we decided to personalize the mask a little bit (here’s why the different design for each one of us) and somewhere around the 2006 we hired someone to make the ones we’re using right now, which (as what the creator said) are made using the mold from the original Jason 13th movie.
(Niko e Tetta, Art of Fighters circa 2001)
Here you can see the pictures of the first time we used those masks. The design is a bit different from what we use now:
Would you have ever seen yourselves coming to perform the USA? How do you think playing for a US crowd will be different from playing in Europe, what do you expect? Are there any new tracks you plan to drop, or any tracks you are particularly excited to play for the US crowd?
This year was full of unexpected gigs. We also did Colombia and Japan, and about to set foot in Canada aswell. And every one of those gigs is a blessing. We love to travel, see different cultures, people and situations. I belive we are all the same but still very different, the idea of party in Italy is different that the one in France or Japan, and I bet my ass that US is a different scenario aswell. As they taught us, you have to adapt in real time to the dancefloor, I’ll try to showcase all our music, which goes from 150bpm to over 200bpm!(I use the singular since it will be a solo dj performance in the US… Luca will be unable to join me due to technical reasons).
Do you think Traxtorm Ganstaz Allied could make a US performance in the future? (DJ team consisting of members Unexist, The Stunned Guys, Mad Dog and Art of Fighters)
I really hope so, and not just in the US!
Art of Fighters
Are there any upcoming releases or future collabs you can share with us? Anything you’re particularly excited about that we should be watching for?
We’re finishing as we speak two tracks, in collaboration with a really talented and underestimated friend and producer which is Dj Predator. A mix of Early rave, Drum and Bass, Mainstyle Uptempo with a touch of Neurofunk. We Love It. There’s also an Hardcore Italia compilation mixed by us and about to be released in Japan. Lot of fresh and cool music and idea over there from a lot of new producers and talents. Keep an eye on it. And also working on something different for 2017. If it will work I’ll talk about it in another edition of Hard Data.
Fantastic! Is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers on the Hard Data?
Yes. A scene without a crowd is not a scene, and a dj without a public is just an expensive cdplayer. So please, support the US scene and attend every party you can!
For me personally, listening to en episode of the Hardcore Italia podcast mixed by an Art of Fighters is what sparked my interest in hardcore music and I am very excited to see them perform here in Los Angeles! Catch them on the USA stops of the Industrial Strength Records 25yr Anniversary world tour, performing in Los Angeles, CA on November 18th, and in Brooklyn, NY on November 19th.
Coming to you directly from the techno hardcore land, The Netherlands, Danny Masseling, known as Angerfist, is a DJ and producer of hardcore techno and gabber. Known for his unique performing style – hooded sweater and infamous Jason mask – and his eclectic beats, he is, for a number of hardcore fans, the most influent hardcore producer on the international scene. And a reputation like this doesn’t get built overnight.
Starting with an E.P. in 2002 on the label Overload Records, Angerfist quickly took the hardcore scene by storm, not only thanks to his numerous hit records such as the very popular Criminally Insane and Fuck Off, but also to the quality of his sets and his incredible presence and charisma on stage. Add that to the dramatic side of his live shows, and you have got a hardcore champion!
In 2006, MC Prozac joins his friend Danny Masseling in this adventure, and Angerfirst turns into a live act that soon becomes one of the biggest players in the gabber and hardcore techno international scene.
Here’s a list of Angerfist’s 5 best tracks:
Criminally Insane:
The unique beat of this track makes it easy to understand why it is one of Angerfist’s most popular ones. It’s got the darkness, it’s got the hardcore, and it’s got a little eclectic side to it. It’s everything a fan of hardcore loves and more.
Chronic Disorder:
Angerfist probably has the most disturbing song titles in the hardcore world, and that is what makes him so popular. Even with this kind of titles, you can’t help but dance to the beat, because it is that catchy. Chronic Disorder is a perfect example of that.
Fuck Off:
Every rebel would love this track! The beats would make any former party animal nostalgic about their youth’s raves.
Chaos and Evil:
With beats and sounds a little more on the techno side, this track shows Angerfist’s genius in all its glory. Indeed, he can move from soft to hardcore in a few seconds without it feeling hectic or heavy on the ears. On the contrary, it goes as smoothly as possible.
Raise Your Fist:
A call for revolution, a call for glory! This is basically what Raise Your Fist is. If the French Revolution had happened in the 21st century, this would be the rebels’ official anthem.
They say that the perfect words to describe Angerfist are “retaliate and devastate!”, and they couldn’t be more right. His beats wake up the rebel in you and open your eyes to the endless possibilities music and art have to offer.
He is now one of the most respected hardcore producers in the world, and some might even consider him a genius. They wouldn’t be wrong, because a musical genius is someone who awakes emotions and feelings in you through their art, and that is exactly what Angerfist succeeded to do.
Editors Note* This article got lost in all the shuffle over the last few months! Darkmatter is having a show tonight, Oct. 8 2016. Make sure to check it out. As you will read below, its always a good time!
By Christina Ruiz
Darkmatters 15 year anniversary party was a mixup of musical styles, delivered in a way that only a Darkmatter party can. If you are not familiar with Darkmatter, we pity you. A staple in the Los Angeles underground, their parties are the kind of parties that you can take a person who has no understanding or knowledge of electronic music and know that they will have a meaningful experience saturated with extreme beats and seasoned OG’s. Despite being part of a sorely missed and dying breed of party, they have stayed true to the underground flavor and feel, remaining a long lasting beacon in a sea of EDM that has overtaken the scene. Attending a Darkmatter is something that just remains in your memory long after the ringing in the ears dissipates and the underground smell of sweat and cigarettes in your shirt gets washed off. True to their long history of delivering solid events, their 15year anniversary edition delivered a night in true form for them with a lineup including Darkmatter alumni and some newer faces and sounds. The night started with Skrill, sadly I missed this set but arrived to catch the tail end of Standox. Composed of veterans Wet Mango and WMX, they delivered a solid set that had the early crowd bobbing their heads in unified agreement-they delivered some heavy hitting beats with an energy that was palpable. Next was Diskore, who never ceases to amaze with the precision that he delivers every single set with. Succeeding on deck was Bambule, who brought a change of pace with an ambient noise set that permeated your ear drums and transported you to dark and beautiful place, not for the faint of heart. Deadly Buda closed out the party with a rare set that included classics from the early 90’s giving the crowd a dose of nostalgia and the party a change of pace. I found myself bouncing around like a teenager again as he dropped cut after cut of pure rave goodness. All in all, the night was a representation of what an amazing job Darkmatter has done and will continue to do for this-joining new and old and simply delivering a solid event were all are welcome. Attending their events over the years has provided some amazing experiences, and I found myself saying once again…..like so many times before…..well done Darkmatter…..well done.
Darkmatter’s latest show looks to be great too! Check it out tonight!
Dedicated to the harder sound of electronic dance music.
