Before meeting each other, Matt Muscarella and Simone Paradiso were just two young men living in Milan, sharing the same passion for producing music, more specifically, the hardcore genre. Then they met, and instantly hit it off, musically speaking. So they decided to start a producing duo named The Melodyst, which later would become one of the most unique hardcore duos out there.
They made their first steps in 2008, mostly just making music for their own pleasure, until 2011, when they went professional and signed their first contract with Rotterdam Records. In 2014, they realized their dream of signing with what they call their “reference for hardcore music”, Traxtorm Records.
The Melodyst have many influences, but they stated the CEO of the second label they signed in, Next Cyclone, as their biggest one. They stated in an interview that their music will always have a bit of Cristian: Art of Fighter in it, because he has taught them most of what they know about creating and producing music.
Despite being newcomers in the musical world, they have been getting a lot of attention and praise from many other professionals in their field. This makes them one of the most promising groups on the hardcore scene.
So, without further ado, here are The Melodyst’s 5 sickest tracks ever. Enjoy them!
Partycrasher:
Starting with a melody known to most people’s ears, this track quickly dives into the hardcore techno side. The beats will most definitely please the party animal hiding in each one of us!
Hardcore Domination:
This track is a little bit on the softer side compared the first one. It is, nonetheless, extremely catchy and will make you dance without realizing it. It’s only when you’ll notice people looking weirdly at you in the subway that you’ll know that you have been head banging in silent like a lunatic (not that it wouldn’t be worth it).
Personal Demon:
This one is a little bit different, with darker sounds to it in the middle. Still, it’s the perfect party song for people who don’t mind celebrating their personal demons.
Raveolusion:
As we can see it, hardcore is alive and well! The voice singing the revolution in this track adds a little bit of rage, indignation and life to it.
Flame of life:
Darker and more mysterious, this track would perfectly fit in some alternative heavy metal album.
The Melodyst’s first E.P. on Traxtorm is different from what they have done before. It is very melodic, with a particular ambiance to it. It’s not just plain hardcore, but a mix of different musical genres like pop, rock and funk. This decision didn’t come as a surprise to their fans, since it perfectly represents the duo’s young and innovative state of mind.
Wicked, eclectic and melodic, that is The Melodyst’s emblem, and they sure are faithful to it!
For more on The Melodyst, look up their Facebook page:
The story first started in 2000’s Italy, when three guys met: Jacopo Stevanato, Samuele Gozzo and Sirio Carino. It was an instant musical “love at first sight”, so they decided to team up and create the “Sick DJ Team”. Under that alias, they dropped their first hardcore tracks on G-Net Records. A couple years after, having musically matured, they decided to change their name to “The Sickest Squad”, keeping the adjective “sick”, it being their musical brand. Being big fans of Frenchcore, they started working with DJ Randy, the owner of R909. This helped them define their sound and come up with their own musical style called “Sickcore”, which is the hybrid child of hardcore and Frenchcore.
Influenced by various musical genres that range from dubstep to punk or even metal, The Sickest Squad’s music is energetic, dark and fast, and they are considered one of the most influent and unique Frenchcore groups out there.
Today, we will introduce you to 5 of The Sickest Squad’s most popular tracks. Be ready to listen to some SICK beats!
Ass, Bass N Bitches:
After listening to this, you will definitely be in the party mood! You can already imagine the neon lights, the shots and the head-banging party animals.
Minimal is Criminal:
We can all definitely imagine the beginning of this track being the background music of a hardcore fight scene in a blockbuster, or maybe being played while a group of hackers are taking down some shady government organization.
Swingbeat #TiH :
This track gives off some nice Electro Swing vibes at the beginning, and then turns into a pure Frenchcore track. A rollercoaster of genres that keeps you on your toes!
Opera Prima:
This 6 minutes track is worth the detour! It gives off spy movie/psychological thriller vibes. Mysterious and dark music, a husky feminine voice and a beat we can only call SICK are definitely a winning combination, and the proof is right here!
Boom Shakalaka:
Starting soft and ending strong, this track builds up its beats until they explode in what we can only call a purely ecstatic combination of sounds. Listening to this will make you ditch your table at a club and go hit the dance floor, drink in hand.
Now that the techno music scene has become a full part of what we can call “mainstream” music, The Sickest Squad is getting more popular by the day, and their music is gaining a huge fan base that is expanding every single day. Even after their third member, Sirio, left the group in 2006, they kept making quality music that pleased Frenchcore and Sickcore fans.
After performing in several events, such as their famous “The Sickest Squad Concert”, The Sickest Squad managed to establish themselves as one of the best groups in their musical genre.
For more information about The Sickest Squad, check out their 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.
Marco Collini has shown an utmost amount of dedication and passion for Hardcore in the Italian scene. He had to jump through a lot of hoops and took a lot of risks in order to become one of the most prominent upcoming Hardcore artists to date. His presence on the tour will easily show the U.S. what can happen if you stay passionate and true to yourself, your sound and your scene. Please welcome: ALIEN T! You can witness this man in Mesa, Arizona on February, 19th. In Denver, Colorado – February 20th. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania – February 26th, and finally: Brooklyn, New York on February 27th.
What inspired your stage name? I prefer to call it an ‘artist’ name because it wasn’t created by thinking about my performances on stage, but thinking about the feelings that I wanted to spread with my music. Indeed, Alien T is short for “Alien Terror”; it’s a feeling that people experience when they discover something for the very first time. It is a sort of fear but then, when you’re used to it, it changes into an enjoyable feeling! I chose this name because Hardcore music is unknown in my hometown, so people always seem “scared” about it, but they ignore the fact that they could love it if they would give it a chance.
Were you a DJ first, or a producer? I was a DJ first. I always had a passion for it. In 2002, I finally had the chance to buy my first set of DJ equipment. I practiced every day and after a couple of years my skills were already so great that I started to play some moderate/huge events in Switzerland. I was also one of the winners of Megarave’s ‘New Talent DJ Contest’ in 2004. Meanwhile, I had started to try to produce my own Hardcore tracks. In that same year, I finally bought a new computer and started to seriously produce. Three years later (2007), I was able to release my first record on G-Net Records (a sub label of Traxtorm Records).
How did you get into the scene? I got into the scene first as a follower when I discovered Hardcore in the year 2000. I was immediately addicted to it. I started searching for music and parties even if I didn’t have them close to my hometown. I had to travel at least three hours to find the closest city that had Hardcore music shops (Rome) and about six hours for the closest place that had Hardcore parties (Rimini). All these obstacles proved to me that my passion for this music was really big and motivated me to go on.
What was the first record you ever purchased? Neophyte vs. The Stunned Guys – Nation of Domination on Rotterdam Records.
Who was your biggest inspiration in the early part of your career? Amnesys, without any doubts!
Catch Alien T on these Trauma Tour Dates!
Would you describe your first DJ gig? My first DJ gig was in the summer of 2004 in Switzerland at the official Hardcore after party for the famous ‘Street Parade’ in Zurich; it was at the Club Niaxa in Bulach. I remember being uneasy about it but my set went great! After that performance, the promoter booked me again for even more parties!
What was your favorite party you’ve ever played? Why? I can’t really choose just one because I’ve had so many awesome experiences; but definitely some of the big parties that I played at ‘Club Florida’ in Italy are totally unforgettable, and surely parties such as Dominator, Masters of Hardcore, and Defqon.1 were unforgettable as well!
What was the funniest moment during any of your performances? There have been so many of those moments, but when the Hardcore Italia crew gets together, we are definitely funny!
What important changes have you witnessed from the time you got into the scene, until now? I’ve witnessed a lot of changes; they were always caused by how the music trend was changing. I’ve noticed that the faster the music, the smaller the scene becomes. The most recent, and best period of time for the Hardcore scene was between 2005-2010 when a lot of great hits were released and there were a lot more Hardcore parties. Nowadays, the Hardcore scene doesn’t seem as big because there are very few clubs that book Hardcore events. For me, it’s all about the summer festival season and the few big indoor events during the winter, at least here in the Netherlands.
Did you ever think you would be touring the United States? What do you think the Trauma Tour will be like? I’ve always hoped about getting a gig in the States because I’m very curious to see how American people act towards the Hardcore scene and its music; so this is a dream come true and I’m very excited about it. I’ve heard it’s pretty unusual to have that big of a lineup in your country for the harder styles so this should be lots of fun!
What is your favorite track that you have produced? ‘The Hammer of the Devil’, because it was a big risk to produce a track like that; with a totally different sound design and very slow BPM, but I did it anyway and it gave me (and is still giving me) a lot of satisfaction!
What advice would you give to up and coming Hardcore producers? Don’t try to find the fastest/easiest way to success; the best way to improve your skill is to work very hard and try to be original because we don’t need copies!
Have any of the other artists on the Trauma tour ever inspired your work? If so, how? Amnesys. He was a mentor for me (and still is). He opened up my mind a lot and gave me the chance to have a more complete vision about music overall.
What are your top 3 favorite tracks of all time? Why? Turbulence ‘N’ Terrorists – Six Million Ways to Die. Simple, straight to the point, and I still can’t believe that kick drum was made in 1994!
Project Omeaga – Prednison Attack. A clear example of originality; when someone uses a sound in a different way and is able to create something that will always sound fresh and cool.
Amnesys – Refly. When this was released it was very unique track. The atmosphere of the breakdown is unbelievable, every element in it works perfectly together. A clear example that complex tracks can also be party tracks if they’re made in the right way!
What was your favorite track of 2015 (that wasn’t your own)? Amnesys feat. MC Axys – Shockwave
Alien T! Click HERE to purchase your tickets to the Trauma Tour and receive a FREE subscription to the HARD DATA!
Are there any exciting projects or gigs coming up you want our readers to know about? I’m working on new solo tracks and collaborations. I’m still working on ‘Vanguard’; the concept and radio show that I manage with Amnesys where we always try to spread top notch Hardcore and more! Keep an eye on my social media if you want to be updated!
Dedicated to the harder sound of electronic dance music.
