Here is the online version of issue 3, in Acrobat PDF format.
Ophidian – NightFall Angel VIP – Enzyme Records
Ophidian, as you all should know, is one the more technical Hardcore producers out there today; with his productions being so clean, and his mastering even more so. With his release of ‘Nightfall Angel VIP’, Ophidian takes us back to his older sounds with an incredible new design along with a millennium remaster of the original and a breakbeat kind of remix by IDrake (???). The tracks are best described as orchestral, cinematic and nostalgic. This release will take you back to the peak of Ophidian’s career, helping you gain an understanding as to how he’s become the most prominent name in Hardcore techno. Enjoy.
Synaptic Memories – Tripped – Invisible – Complex Systems EP
For the Industrial fans out there; this entire EP is filled with a wonderful sound design of orchestrated noise! But the track that stands out the most for me is the second track on the EP: ‘Invisible’ and it’s because of SM’s work with Tripped. Tripped has made kicks that have always had a very particular roughness to them that have made them addicting and his variations within this particular track keep your attention all the way through. Of course, I’m more prone to noisy sounds over structured melodies, and SM hits that spot on and still with plenty of drive and atmosphere, but if you like thick, distorted kicks, this track has them and hearing this one on the dance floor is more than likely to make the crowd move.
Classic Track Review: Lem-X – More Drumming – D-Boy Black Label
Originally released in 2004, and only on vinyl, Italy’s DJ Lem-X released this on a VA record to outstanding reactions. To this day, this, in my experience/opinion, is one of the hardest tracks to find from the early 2000’s, let alone to also find the words to describe this track, except that it’s hard, distorted, and catchy as all hell. Look it up, track it down, get a hold of it in some way; you’ll be so happy that you did.
DJ Dione aka E-Noid aka SRB Interview
I’m sure this man needs no introduction, but since 1991 DJ Dione aka E-Noid, or maybe a lot more of you recognize him as the Terror act SRB, has been dominating dance floors everywhere in the world, and this year he finally got to destroy LA at TR-909’s Trauma party back in August. I can’t believe that I was given the honor of sitting down with this man and finding out more about my personal Hardcore hero. What follows is the official interview for you all to enjoy!
Austin: I want your reactions from Saturday. How did you feel about the party, as well as the American Hardcore scene (if you are familiar with it)?
Dione: It was an awesome party, I really liked it. Good sound, nice visuals and decorations plus of course a super dedicated crowd, I loved playing there.
Funny thing was that I was booked as Dione and it was an early hardcore/ old-school event but before and during my set a lot of people asked for SRB so I decided to play a few SRB tracks at the end and then all hell broke loose, in a good way that is
I have been in LA a couple of times but that was a long time ago, played at some smaller rooms so I really wasn’t expecting so many hardcore heads on this party. I know the hardcore scene in the USA is small compared to the scene over here in Europe so it was good to see that so many people showed up and I hope that this party gave the USA scene a boost. Got to thank TR-99 events also for putting up this party and for getting us to play there!!
Austin: What do you think of the direction that Hardcore has been moving toward in the last decade or so? Where do you think it will be going next? Where would you like to see it go?
Dione: That’s a hard question. Production-wise the music has grown a lot, sound quality (mixing and mastering) is at a really high level now. The downside of this is that it is harder for new talents to achieve the same levels.
Musically I notice that there are more and more sub genres in Hardcore. I don’t like that because for me it’s all hardcore. There are good tracks in every sub-genre and so I keep an open mind and pick out my favorites from every style. Hardcore is a feeling and not a concept.
It’s hard to predict where it will be going next, but I guess that the sub genres will mix more and more with each other. I think you start seeing it develop like that already; up-tempo with mainstream melodies, mainstream with crossbreed elements etc…
Austin: Which really came first, the Dione project, or SRB? Which one do you like playing more as? Which act has a better reaction from the crowd in your opinion (if you have noticed a difference at all)?
Dione: The Dione project came first; I started playing as Dione in 1991. Some 10 years later came E-Noid, my alias for Darkcore/industrial productions on the DNA label. And a couple of years after that I also started producing under the name SRB, an alias for the terror tracks I made for the ‘This Is Terror’ label. But those productions were so popular that I got many offers to play as SRB also. At first I only did it as a side project but nowadays it has grown more and more popular. I really love playing as SRB because I only play my own productions, which is very satisfying for a DJ; to see the crowd go wild on your own stuff.
But I like variation, so for me it’s a welcome change, to play under the different aliases and play all the different kinds of hardcore, whether it’s terror or industrial, old-school or mainstream. The reactions from the crowd don’t really only depend on the style I play, but also on what party or what country.
Austin: Any advice for the American Hardcore scene?
Dione: Yeah, there’s something I like to say: I have heard that many party people don’t like the mosh pits at hardcore parties so they decide to stay away, but there’s a simple solution to this, which I saw at the Headstrong party in LA many years ago: keep a part of the dancefloor for the mosh pitters and the rest for the others. This way you won’t hurt each other.
Austin: What’s next for DJ Dione; For SRB?
Dione: I’m currently working on new Dione tracks which I hope to finish and release soon. And also some E-Noid and SRB tracks of course. I loved the holiday in the USA but now I’m back in my favorite place in the whole world: my studio!