Tag Archives: autop

Articles, Events, Interviews

Acidcorecrew Interview

Acidcorecrew are a Russian underground hardcore and breakcore crew organizing parties in St. Petersburg and most recently in Moscow. After visiting Acidcorefest.Moscowedition I decided to interview Igor (Shotgun Orchestra) to ask more about the crew and the local scene.

Who are the Acidcorecrew and how did Acidcorefest start?

Acidcorefest 10
Party people @ Acidcorefest 10 in St. Peterburg

ACIDCOREFEST and ACIDCORECREW appeared in 2007-2008 and the idea and was implemented in late 2008 as a festival of heavy electronic music. In fact, at the time we first focused on breakcore and gabba styles, but over time other styles were added as well. During the period of 2008-2016 we have organized 10 Acidcorefests in Saint-Petersburg, 1 in Moscow this year, as well as some other parties. Acidcorefest was on hiatus from 2011 until this year.
First members of ACIDCORECREW were me and Anton DistoNN. When we revived the festival in 2016 few people also joined us to help with the organization. Now ACIDCORECREW are Anton DistoNN, Mila, Slava, me and other guys who took photos, made promos and video.

The name does not seem to refer to the hardcore techno subgenre acidcore. Is there a story behind the name?

The name of the festival is not associated with the name of the style of music, it was more likely due to the fact that in the breakcore and gabba music there were a lot of acid riffs at that time.

How did the Acidcorefest.Moscowedition go in your opinion?

I think it was not quite bad. Perhaps one of the biggest festivals in recent years. However, there were some negative aspects, but these errors are considered in the future.

What has been the most memorable Acidcorefest event for you?

All. Literally. I remember every one of them, they were all unique and unforgettable.

Which international artists have visited your parties?

Techdiff (UK), Rotator (FR), Klitorix (FR/ES), M1dlet (LT), Xäcksecks (SE), Belladonnakillz (CA), C64 (CA), Kodek (LV), Gabba Front Berlin (DE), Bonehead (NL), Jensen (DE), Passenger of Shit (AU), Ars Dada (NO), Zutsuu / Teknoaidi (FI), Zeuge (BY), Gexider (BY), CJClip (BY) and Airborne Drumz (RU/DE).

How was the Russian scene before Acidcorefest started? And how did Acidcorefest influence the scene?

Acidcorefest 9
Party people enjoying speedcore @ Acidcorefest 9

Before Acidcorefest there were many other organizers in Russia like Breakcore.ru, IDM-group, Soundclash, Gromov and his parties. Almost all of these promoters either do not exist anymore or are not active. I think we can assume that ACIDCOREFEST is the biggest regular breakcore/hardcore festival in Saint P from 00’s that returned today.

What plans do you have for the future?

We always have plans, unfortunately more than opportunities, but I think in the near future we are waiting to do the next ACIDCOREFESTs in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of Europe.

Tell us a bit about your hardcore/breakcore projects Shotgun Orchestra, Action Agenda and the label SickBrokenBrothers.

Shotgun Orchestra is probably my longest project and perhaps the most important to date, when viewed in the context of time. The project was started in 2003, when I made a few tracks, which became the basis of the first albums published later. Then had quite a long break until 2007, related to my service in the Russian army, and in 2007 I started to perfom with this project. At the moment I don’t give much time to this project anymore, mainly due to the activities with Action Agenda, but I promise to create a full-length album in 2017 and noisily celebrate the 10 years of the project.

Action Agenda
Action Agenda in action @ Acidcorefest.Moscowedition

Action Agenda is a new page in my music life. We are doing this project with Vyacheslav Vincent Nine. We started it in 2015, but I have great hopes for it.
SickBrokenBrothers Records is a young Russian independent record label focusing on hardcore, breakcore and crossbreed stuff. We try to publish the highest quality materials from the area of the former Soviet Union and neighboring countries, but the history of the label has only just begun.

What do you think about the Russian core scene?

Unfortunately the Russian scene is not as great as we would like it to be, but it is now in the stage of regeneration, and what it will be in a few years is difficult to predict.

What are the challenges in organizing parties in Russia?

The low attendance and low ticket prices. There are of course also really small parties for friends where you know all the visitors. We’ve done similar parties for many years and wanted some progress, so we wanted to make Acidcorefest something bigger and more interesting. The main challenge right now, with music in general, is that people are more interested in the image, the brands and the atmosphere. There is a real revival going on in the flourishing Russian gabba, but young gabbers are more interested in how they are dressed than what they listen to. This used to be secondary. Earlier people went to parties for the music (like to listen to good foreign visitors).

What subgenres are popular in the Russian core underground now? Are there any specific influences from abroad or interesting local developments?

As a whole I think I will not be mistaken if I say that the Russian scene is developing in parallel with the European, but with some delay. It doesn’t have some distinct differences. Only the style of dress that has appeared in recent years – many dress up as at parties in Holland in the 90’s.

Which Russian core artists would you recommend for the readers to check out?

Would not want to leave anyone out, many musicians in Russia are worthy of paying attention to, many you already know now. Those of you who are paying attention, let me draw your attention to the duo (RI) and Doc and DJ QuintaEssentia.

Thanks for the interview!

As a bonus here’s an aftermovie from Acidcorefest.Moscowedition made by Hardcore Russia TV:

Articles, Events, Reviews

Hard Electronic: 25 Year of Industrial Strength Records, Los Angeles Event Review

Anyone trying to coordinate going to a show with friends knows it isn’t always easy, and this night was no exception. After much anticipation, my friends and I were finally on our way after quite a bit of drama- One friend of mine, Matt, had just spent the last 6hrs in traffic driving to my house all the way from San Diego, while my other friend, Tyler, had a mini-emergency losing his wallet (with his ID) earlier in the day, only to find it again about 20mins before coming to my house, and lastly, my friend Angel wanted us to pick him up on the way to the venue. But at last, the emotional rollercoaster of just wanting to get to the show so we could go party was over, and it was time to go! I had been looking forward to this show for months and my anticipation had built to the point where I was bursting with excitement! The night ahead promised some of the leading names in hardcore, and was to celebrate 25 Years of the Industrial Strength Records label.

Hard Electronic: 25 Year of Industrial Strength Records lineup featured artists Deadly Buda, Cik, Fiend, Rob Gee, Lenny Dee, Tymon, Unexist, The Sickest Squad and Art of Fighters. After passing through security and catching up with some friends, I walked onto the dance floor and prepared myself for the acts I had been looking forward to for months now. I was especially was excited that night to see Art of Fighters, Unexist, The Sickest Squad, Rob Gee and Lenny Dee… it was shortly after seeing the timeslots that I discovered Lenny Dee was not on the lineup. I later found out that Lenny had injured himself and his doctor did not recommend him to fly and risk further injury.

Lenny made the following statement on Facebook to his fans:

“My love goes out to the LA crew for making it happen. Respect. West Coast Kicking Ass!!! Get ready for Hard Electronic 2.0 coming in 2017. There is no stopping what can’t be stopped…”

We wish for your speedy recovery Lenny, but once I learned of your injury I knew that the night must go on as you had intended it to!

At this point, the much-awaited US appearance of Art of Fighters took to the stage. Throughout the crowded room you could see fans waving Art of Fighters and Hardcore Italia flags, and the signature Art of Fighters hardcore sound filled the room with catchy melodies and defiant lyrics. Art of Fighters set included classic tracks including ‘Nirvana of Noise’, and eventually ended with ‘Oh My Sun.’

Art of Fighters at Hard Electronic: 25 Year of Industrial Strength Records, Los Angeles
Art of Fighters at Hard Electronic: 25 Year of Industrial Strength Records, Los Angeles

Following Art of Fighters was Unexist, who changed the atmosphere in the room from the melodies of Art of Fighters, to a much more brutal sound. If Art of Fighters set could be described as ‘energizing’, then Unexist’s set would be described as ‘aggressive.’ One such track that he played that exemplifies this aggressiveness was ‘Devil’s Son”.

As Unexist’s set ended The Sickest Squad took to the stage to bring their own unique brand of Frenchcore (they aptly nicknamed Sickcore) to the party. For me personally, I was just as excited for The Sickest Squad as much as I was for a Frenchcore act to perform, as US doesn’t get much Frenchcore. For those unfamiliar with Frenchcore, the sound is an entirely unique variation of the hardcore sound. Tracks often feature samples of odd instruments not normally heard in electronic music playing symphonic melodies, as well as chanting or rambling of lyrics, and the bass vibrates similar to how reverse bass is for Hardstyle. The Sickest Squad’s set included their classic ‘Boomshakalaka’, as well as their new track with Dr. Peacock ‘Frenchcore Family’ (Vive La Frenchcore 2016 Anthem).

Appropriately slated to close out the night with a dose of Gabber was American legend Rob Gee. Rob started his set by recognizing the Industrial Strength Label for achieving the 25-year milestone, and we all took a moment to pay respect to Lenny Dee who, even though he couldn’t be there with us in person, was certainly there in spirit. Rob opened with one of his classic gabber tracks, ‘Pollywaggachuggabonka’ and ‘Coming At You Strong’, before working in some of his newer tracks ‘Dark Universe’ and ‘Caramba!’ into his set, all while entertaining the crowd with his animated, high energy personality.

Industrial Strength RecordsThroughout the night I was excited to see so many familiar faces, but one thing that I noticed was a definite, mature presence in the crowd as well. 25 Years of Industrial Strength Records meant that some of these people had been listing to hardcore more years than others at the party had been alive! That night I spoke to several who recounted their memories of their first shows in the 90’s held in warehouses, about their early Industrial Strength and Thunderdome vinyls, and it was interesting to hear their perspective of how the scene had grown and changed over the years. Trauma has a great ability to blend the past and the present in their shows in a really enjoyable way, and I have always respected and appreciated the origins of this scene. Ultimately, I would say the 25 years of the Industrial Strength Records was a massive success entertaining both new and old alike, and I look forward to more hardcore in the future!

Articles, RANKED!

Amnesys RANKED! The Best 5 Tracks EVER?

Dario Renzi, known under the stage name Amnesys, is an Italian hardcore and gabber DJ and producer working under the famous label Traxtorm Records. His career starts when, in 2001, he records a demo and personally gives it to Cristian Itali, aka Impulse Factory.

In 2004, under Impulse Records, Amnesys releases his first official EP, named The Ultimate Motherfucker, which is still played at raves today. These tracks earned him the recognition of two big names in the industry, Maxx and Giangy, also known as The Stunned Guys. The two artists scouted him and helped him release two other EP’s under Impulse Records. After that, Dario was deemed ready to jump to the real deal: producing and releasing tracks under the giant Traxtorm Records.

In 2007, Amnesys officialy becomes a Traxtorm Records artist and releases his first EP under this label. Those four tracks will truly mark the beginning of his career and propel him to the rank of a big player on the hardcore scene. He gets booked for several big parties, and his latest release, “Worldwide Crisis”, gets voted best record of the year by the MOH Radio live-show audience.

Now, let’s discover listen together to Amnesys’s best 5 tracks and enjoy them to the last!

  1. Worldwide Crisis:

Which track to start with if not the one that propelled Amnesys to fame? Listening to this, everyone can understand why it was voted best record of the year in 2008. Even the stiffest people will dance to it, so it’s not a surprise that hardcore techno fans and party animals alike went crazy for it.

  1. Underground Revolution:

This is one of the most played tracks by DJs all over the world, and we can clearly get why! Only someone deaf wouldn’t go wild when listening to it, and we here suspect even people with hard hearing would feel the beat in their bones and dance to it!

  1. Catastrophes:

Get ready for a wild ride! The powerful beats will make you head bang, so be sure of taking some pain killers if you don’t want your neck to feel stiff. Yes, that’s how addictive this track is. And the neck pain is real after listening to that one, believe us, we’ve been through it and it was totally worth it!

  1. The Ultimate Motherfucker:

This is one of the artist’s first releases. Even back then, he had that crazy kick that makes his music so unique. Listen to it and feel the genius!

  1. Elevation:

Last but not least, one of Amnesys’s most famous releases. The powerful sounds go really well with the overall futuristic vibe of this track.

Since his early beginnings, Dario has been tacking the hardcore industry by storm and he’s not about to stop his rise to the title of Master of hardcore. Indeed, in those last years, he has been booked by several big promoters and famous clubs. So, make sure to watch him closely, he’ll definitely leave his mark on the hardcore scene.

For more info about Amnesys, check out his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/DjAmnesys/

Articles, RANKED!

UNEXIST: 5 Killer Tracks RANKED!

1 Comment

If I said “Fransesco Lapicca”, would you recognize the man? Most of you wouldn’t, since you probably know him as Unexist or Jappo. This Italian artist, known as “The most terrifying Italian killer” (a metaphor, of course), is a DJ and producer of hardcore techno music and gabber. In 1995, he released his first track, and from then on, he has been performing in big clubs, private parties and festivals, not only in his home country, Italy, but all over the world. After moving to New York for a year, Unexist discovered that he had a talent for scratching and became one of the hardcore scene’s best.

Fransesco has often talked about the anger and rage inside him, and how producing hardcore techno music was the only way to release all of these feelings. In one of his interviews, he stated “Music has always been an output to me. So I can unleash my anger through my music.” As a Heavy Metal lover, hard music has always been his favorite genre.

Now, let’s discover together Unexist’s 5 most popular tracks. Get ready to be slayed by real hardcore music!

  1. Fuck The System:

As we said, Unexist’s music is anything but soft, and this track is the perfect proof. We can feel the artist’s rage in those beats, which are at the same time very techno and extremely heavy metal-y. We can definitely imagine metal heads listening to this and enjoying it!

  1. Questa È Hardcore :

This one is a little less hardcore than the first track, but it is just as good. More techno than heavy, it makes you long for your clubbing nights when you’re spending a calm one at home (if by calm you mean chilling in your pajamas with a pack of beer and Unexist’s music blasting from your laptop).

  1. Burn It All Down:

The title says it all, no need for more description. Just do it, and burn it all down! If you’re wearing glasses, be careful, you’ll have to take them off before listening to this track because you will head bang like crazy!

  1. Rockus:

Rage, anger and even more rage. This track is sick and you will find yourself dancing to it without realizing it.

  1. Anarchy in the UK:

Yes, this is The Sex Pistols song, but with the unique Unexist sauce added to it, which makes it one hundred times better (no offense to the fans of The Sex Pistols or punk music). A little bit of punk rock mixed with industrial hardcore never hurt anyone.

Unexist, as a big fan of Slipknot and metal music, is now collaborating with various metal artists on a new project called “Fail 2 Comply”. His newest album is also fully covering the spectrums of the hardcore genre, from fast and heavy tones to more soft and melodic ones. Fransesco says that this is “hardcore seen through Unexist’s eyes”.

Discover more about Unexist by visiting his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/DjUnexist/

Articles, Events, Reviews

Darkmatter 15 Year Anniversary

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 October 8, 2016
Darkmatter’s latest show looks to be great too! Check it out tonight!