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Sunday, April 30, 2023
Noteworthy releases of April 2023
Monday, April 24, 2023
Hardcore Techno Goes Mainstream Media: A Look at Iconic Tracks Featured in Movies and TV Shows
One of the most interesting aspects of hardcore techno's foray into the media is the way in which it has been used. Unlike other genres that might be used as background music or to create a particular mood, hardcore techno is often featured prominently in the soundtracks of movies and TV shows, with specific tracks chosen to highlight important moments in the narrative.
Let us take a closer look at the use of hardcore techno in the media, exploring some of the most iconic examples of tracks that have appeared in movies and TV shows.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
Breaking the Mold: Exploring the Experimental Hardcore Techno of the 1990s
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Review of a past overdog: Steel - Steel
Steel by Martin Damm, also known as Speedfreak or Biochip C, is a hidden gem in the music world that deserves more recognition. Released on the label Mille Plateaux, which was associated with the prominent Techno label Force Inc., Steel is a departure from Damm's usual Hardcore Techno style, exploring more experimental and unusual sounds.
The album diverges from traditional Hardcore Techno by taking a unique approach that blends together elements of Industrial, Dark Ambient, Noise, jungle, electro, and drum'n'bass, resulting in a refreshing and novel sound. The diverse range of sounds creates a surreal and dark atmosphere throughout the album that is further enhanced by the use of samples from horror movies, TV, and other sources.
Steel is one of Damm's most experimental works, and arguably one of his best. The album showcases his versatility as a producer and his willingness to explore new and uncharted territory. Despite being almost unknown today, Steel is a must-listen for anyone interested in exploring the unusual and unconventional side of electronic music.
Overall, Steel is a brilliant and unique album that deserves more recognition in the music community. If you're looking for something different, Steel is definitely worth a listen.
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Hardcore on a C64: Pushing the Limits of Sound and Creativity
The C64 SID-chip was a digital sound synthesizer with a maximum of three channels of sound generation. Each channel had access to basic waveform shapes, such as square, triangle, and sawtooth waves, which could be combined to produce complex sounds.
The chip also featured a simple filter and amplitude envelope for each channel, as well as various modulation techniques. However, the chip's capabilities were limited by a small amount of available memory for storing sound data, and a low sample rate.
Artists working with the C64 SID-chip were forced to make creative use of its limited capabilities. They often resorted to using arpeggios, pitch bends, and other techniques to create complex sounds and rhythms. Some even experimented with circuit bending and hardware modifications to push the chip to its limits.
Despite these limitations, the C64 SID-chip produced a distinct and iconic sound that is still celebrated in electronic music today. The simplicity and rawness of the chip's sound has inspired generations of artists to explore the creative possibilities of limited technology.
We have heard the pounding beats of Gabber, the uplifting melodies of Happy Hardcore, and the experimental sounds of Acidcore and Speedcore. We have witnessed the innovative ways in which artists pushed the limits of the C64 SID-chip, creating complex sounds and rhythms that defied imagination.
But above all, we have been inspired by the spirit of these artists, who refused to be constrained by the limitations of technology and instead embraced them as a challenge to be overcome. They were the pioneers of a new sound, the architects of a new approach to Hardcore techno.
As we look to the future of electronic music, let us carry this spirit of innovation and creativity with us. Let us continue to explore the endless possibilities of technology and push the boundaries of what is possible. And let us keep the legacy of the C64 SID-chip Hardcore techno pioneers alive.
And here are some further examples of C64 Hardcore for your listening pleasure:
Saturday, April 15, 2023
We asked a chatbot AI to imagine how discontinued classic hardcore labels could have continued - these are the results!
We all think fondly of some labels that existed in the past. That were known for their groundbreaking, brilliant, and magnificent output. Releasing records by producers that have become legendary (referring both the producers and the records, of course).
But a lot of these labels stopped at some point in time. Sometimes way too early; sometimes due to the natural course of things.
Because, let us face it. Nothing lasts forever. Except for commercial spots where people are screaming too loud and annoyingly. No matter whether on Radio, TV, or now on streaming platforms and sites. The ad companies just seem to pump out these kind of ads and there is no end to it. But we digress. Yes, nothing lasts forever.
And we accept this.
Well, actually.
We don't.
Because...
Sometimes we think...
Would if I could travel to a different universe.
Where label X or artist Y *did not stop*.
Or we could travel back in time.
Fix the issues of the label before it became defunct.
And it still exists.
And then we think.
How would the label have continued.
What kind of awesome and visionary stuff would they have made?
Which artist would they have released?
What EPs would they have put out?
But we can't travel back in time.
Or to a parallel universe.
But here is the good news:
Something has traveled to us!
It's the advent of the AI chatbots.
And, now, we have the chance.
To ask *them*.
The chatbots.
We can ask them "What If?"
And with their super duper smart electronic brains.
Electronic brains that are even smarter than Jerry Lewis in the original "The Nutty Professor" (fuck the remake with Eddie Murphy. Nothing against Eddie Murphy. But the remake sucked. Really! Believe me on this).
Or even smarter than the djinn in the 90s Disney movie Aladdin.
What was it called? Not the movie. I know the movie was called "Aladdin". Was the djinn just called "Djinn"? I think that was the case. I only remember it said "You can call me Al" at one point. But that was probably a reference to the Paul Simon song. Paul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel.
But I digress again.
So, we asked the chatbots.
And with the super duper electronic brains they made super duper electronic brain calculations.
And tried their best to imagine an universe where these labels still exist.
And told us how these future releases, that never actually existed, could have been.
And here are these lists.
So, without any enhanced ado, take a glance at them.
Disclaimer: this feature here was made with the uttermost respect to all the labels mentioned here. We think the answers of the chatbot are very interesting, and at times, even inspiring. And while some may sound silly, this is on our part not meant in any disrespectful way regarding the original artists and people involved in these labels.
If any artist or person involved with these labels objects to an entry or being mentioned here, please contact us and we will remove it.
No offense meant in any way!
2nd Disclaimer:
Duh, we didn't think we should mention it. But maybe we should.
As the topic and theme and content of this feature indicates.
*All these records are fictional*.
The involved labels never put these records out. It's just the chatbot doing calculations and providing output! it's "alternative history".
If the chatbot mentions actual artists. These artists never put these records out, not with these tracks, and not on any label.
All of it is just a fantasy, fiction. Calculated, hypothetical output by an AI chatbot.
None of this real.
"None of this is real! You pull the plug... I disappear! And nothing I ever say, nothing I ever do, will ever matter."
Essentially, all of this should not be taken entirely serious.
T.H.C.O.D.: Dear Chatbot. I want to do the following. I want to write a "what if?" type of blog post. In this post, I will look at discontinued Hardcore techno labels. I want to look at the question: "what if they actually had continued? What if they had released more records?". For this, I want you to give me examples of potential, but fictional records. Records that never existed. Could you kindly provide such examples?
Chatbot: I'll do my best to generate imaginative and creative examples of fictional records that could have been released by the discontinued Hardcore techno labels you provide. Please provide the first label's name to get started.
T.H.C.O.D.: PCP aka Planet Core Productions.
Chatbot: Great! Based on the existing discography of the label, here are some examples of potential, but fictional records that PCP could have released if the label had continued:
Artist: Mescalinum United
Title: Beyond Mekong Center
Track Titles:
A1. Into the Core
A2. Beyond Mekong Center
B1. The Lost City
B2. Acid Sunrays
Catalogue Number: PCP 016
Artist: Alien Christ
Title: The Cosmic Awakening
Cat. #: PCP 017
Format: (12")
Tracklist:
A1. The Cosmic Awakening
A2. Metamorphosis
B1. Beyond the Universe
B2. Interdimensional Communication
Artist: The Possessed
Title: Techno Exorcism
Track Titles:
A1. Possessed by Techno
A2. Ritual of Exorcism
B1. Demonic Rave
B2. Temple of Beats
Catalogue Number: PCP 018
Artist: Cybernetic Empire
Title: Machine World
Cat. #: PCP 019
Format: (12")
Tracklist:
A1. Machine World
A2. Digital Dreams
B1. Cybernetic Empire
B2. The Future is Now
Artist: Phuture
Title: The New Industrial Age
Cat. #: PCP 020
Format: (12")
Tracklist:
A1. The New Industrial Age
A2. Mechanical Minds
B1. Digital Revolution
B2. Techno Utopia.
Artist: Cyborg Unknown
Title: Future Shock
Track Titles:
A1. Android Rebellion
A2. Cybernetic Dreams
B1. Dystopian Reality
B2. Robotic Uprising
Catalogue Number: PCP 021
Artist: T-Bone Castro
Title: Hardcore Mayhem
Track Titles:
A1. Mayhem in the Streets
A2. Hardcore Nation
B1. Insanity
B2. Rave Till Dawn
Catalogue Number: PCP 022
T.H.C.O.D: Here is the next label's name: Fischkopf Records, from Hamburg
Chatbot: Thank you for the input. Here are some fictional records that Fischkopf could have released if it had existed for a longer time:
Artist: Eradicator & Christoph De Babalon
Title: Dark Rituals
Tracklist:
A1. Black Magic
A2. Necromancy
B1. Ritual Sacrifice
B2. Blood Moon
Catalogue Number: fisch027
Artist: Monoloop
Title: Jungle Warfare
Tracklist:
A1. Jungle Drums
A2. Tribal Dance
B1. Hunting Season
B2. Amazon Nights
Catalogue Number: fisch028
Artist: P. Server
Title: The Weird Science EP
Catalogue Number: Fisch029
Tracklist:
A1. Artificial Intelligence
A2. Mutation
B1. Mind Control
B2. Quantum Leap
Artist: Amiga Shock Force
Title: Retro Rave
Tracklist:
A1. Oldschool Vibes
A2. Commodore 64
B1. Techno Trance
B2. Atari Attack
Catalogue Number: fisch030
Artist: Taciturne
Title: The Madness Within
Tracklist:
A1. Insanity
A2. Schizophrenia
B1. Delirium
B2. Paranoia
Catalogue Number: fisch031
Artist: Burning Lazy Persons
Title: Firestorm
Tracklist:
A1. Burning Inferno
A2. Heatwave
B1. Blaze of Glory
B2. Flames of Fury
Catalogue Number: fisch032
Artist: No Name (3) & Fields Of Defacement
Title: Industrial Apocalypse
Tracklist:
A1. Machinery in Motion
A2. Factory of Pain
B1. Rust and Ruin
B2. Mechanical Meltdown
Catalogue Number: fisch033
T.H.C.O.D.: Yes, we know. The name of the third label I'd like you to work on is Bloody Fist.
Chatbot: Sure, here are some imaginative and fictional records that Bloody Fist could have released if they had continued:
Artist: The Bloody Blisters
Record Title: Pogo Stick Massacre
Track Titles:
A1. Pogo Stick Massacre
A2. Bunny Hop of Death
B1. Swingin' Chainsaw
B2. Gored by Stilts
Catalogue Number: FIST36
Artist: The Hardcore Circus
Record Title: Circus of Death
Track Titles:
A1. Circus of Death
A2. The Freakshow Massacre
B1. The Ringmaster's Revenge
B2. The Clowns Will Eat You Alive
Catalogue Number: FIST37
Artist: Nasenbluten vs. Xylocaine
Record Title: The Sound of Madness
Track Titles:
A1. The Sound of Madness
A2. Acid Rain of Terror
B1. Chainsaw Symphony
B2. Demented Laughter
Catalogue Number: FIST38
Artist: Embolism vs. Fraughman
Record Title: Bloody Warzone
Track Titles:
A1. Bloody Warzone
A2. Battlefield of Gore
B1. Insanity Rampage
B2. Machine Gun Carnage
Catalogue Number: FIST39
Artist: The Chainsaw Massacre Orchestra
Record Title: Symphony of Gore
Track Titles:
A1. Symphony of Gore
A2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Theme
B1. Leatherface's Waltz
B2. Dance of the Dead
Catalogue Number: FIST40
Artist: The Bloody Marys
Record Title: Blood Bath Beats
Track Titles:
A1. Blood Bath Beats
A2. Scream Queen Shuffle
B1. The Final Girl's Anthem
B2. The Killer's Lullaby
Catalogue Number: FIST41
Artist: The Hardcore Samurai
Record Title: The Way of the Samurai
Track Titles:
A1. The Way of the Samurai
A2. Sword of Justice
B1. Bushido Bass
B2. Kamikaze Kick
Catalogue Number: FIST42
T.H.C.O.D.: The fourth label is Ruffneck Records.
Chatbot: Good! Here are some examples of fictional records that Ruffneck Records could have released if they had continued:
Artist: Hardcore Prophet
Record Title: Apocalypse Now
Track Titles:
A1: The End of the World As We Know It
A2: Armageddon Sound System
B1: No Survivors
B2: Hardcore Overdose
Catalogue Number: RUF 052-5
Artist: Cyberspace Invaders
Record Title: Invasion of the Hardcore Aliens
Track Titles:
A1: Area 51 Raid
A2: Intergalactic Battle Royale
B1: Cosmic Rave Party
B2: Extraterrestrial Hardcore
Catalogue Number: RUF 053-5
Artist: Ruffneck Symphony Orchestra
Record Title: Hardcore Classics Reimagined
Track Titles:
A1: Beethoven Goes Hardcore
A2: Tchaikovsky on Acid
B1: Mozart Gets Ruff
B2: Bach's Badass Bassline
Catalogue Number: RUF 054-5
Artist: Hardcore Pirates
Record Title: Plundering the Rave Scene
Track Titles:
A1: Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Bass
A2: Rave Like a Pirate
B1: Hardcore Mutiny
B2: Sailing the Seas of Hardcore
Catalogue Number: RUF 055-5
Artist: Space Cowboyz
Record Title: Raving in Zero Gravity
Track Titles:
A1: Blast Off to the Hardcore Universe
A2: Interstellar Hardcore Odyssey
B1: Alien Rave Invasion
B2: Cosmic Hardcore Frequencies
Catalogue Number: RUF 056-5
Artist: Ruffneck Alliance
Record Title: Ruffneck Madness
Track Titles:
A1. Ruffneck Alliance - Hardcore Insanity
A2. Ruffneck Alliance - Raise Your Fist
B1. Ruffneck Alliance - The Ruffneck Anthem
B2. Ruffneck Alliance - Destroy The Dancefloor
Catalogue Number: RUF 057-5
Artist: The Ruffneck Rebels
Record Title: Rise of the Rebels
Track Titles:
A1. The Ruffneck Rebels - Rebel Yell
A2. The Ruffneck Rebels - Born To Be A Rebel
B1. The Ruffneck Rebels - Fight For Your Right
B2. The Ruffneck Rebels - No More Rules
Catalogue Number: RUF 058-5
Chatbot: Remember, these are just fictional examples, so feel free to take them with a grain of salt.
T.H.C.O.D.: Yes, we are aware of this.
T.H.C.O.D.: The fifth and final label is Dance Ecstasy 2001.
Chatbot: Understood. Here are some examples of fictional records that Dance Ecstasy 2001 could have released if it had continued:
Artist: Cyber Crusader
Title: Electro Crusade
Catalogue number: DE 2060
Format: (12")
Track Titles:
A1. Circuit Warfare
A2. Electro Crusade
B1. Power Surge
B2. Future Shock
Artist: Acid Queen
Title: Queen of Hearts
Catalogue number: DE 2061
Format: (12")
A1. Track Titles:
A2. Heart Attack
A3. Acid Reign
B1. Electric Love
B2. Chemical Romance
Artist: Hardcore Hippies
Title: Flower Power Anthems
Catalogue number: DE 2062
Format: (12")
Track Titles:
A1. Psychedelic Trip
A2. Mind Expansion
B1. Flower Power Anthem
B2. Hippie Hymn
Artist: The Space Invaders
Title: Invading Your Mind
Catalogue number: DE 2063
Format: (12")
Track Titles:
A1. Alien Invasion
A2. Cosmic Chaos
B1. Space Invaders
B2. Intergalactic Odyssey
Artist: The Hardcore Kid
Title: Raving 4 Life
Catalogue Number: DE 2064
Tracklist:
A1. Raving 4 Life
A2. Hardcore Madness
B1. The Underground Sound
B2. Future Rave Generation
Artist: The Gabber Master
Title: Mind Explosion
Catalogue Number: DE 2065
Tracklist:
A1. Mind Explosion
A2. Gabber Attack
B1. The Hardcore Symphony
B2. Gabber Master
Artist: DJ XTC
Title: Hardcore Vibes
Catalogue Number: DE 2066
Tracklist:
A1. Hardcore Vibes
A2. XTC Overload
B1. The Rave Nation
B2. Hardcore Revolution
Chatbot: Thank you! I'm glad you like the examples. If you have any other questions or requests, feel free to ask.
Do you have any comments? Did you like the creations the chatbot came up with? Let us know!
Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite!
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Zekt: The Unconventional Pioneers of Acidcore and Acidtechno
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
"You are a Hardcore Techno DJ!" - an AI generated pick-your-own-destiny novel presented by The Hardcore Overdogs
Please note that this is the first version of the book, and there are plans to release subsequent versions in the future. These future versions will feature additional pages and content, expanding on the experience of being a hardcore techno DJ. Stay tuned for updates and new releases from the creative minds of Low Entropy and a cutting-edge AI language model.
This book is presented by The Hardcore Overdogs - E-zine for great and / or underrated Hardcore Techno - and Slowcore Records - digital label exclusively for very slow Hardcore and Techno
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Noteworthy releases of March 2023
Two great retro-hardtrance and ravecore releases by braintrance again.
https://braintrance.bandcamp.com/album/ninu-brt-proxy-parallel-times-vol-2
https://braintrance.bandcamp.com/album/distorsion-times-vol12
Early hardcore revival compilation on gabbaret.
https://gabbaretrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gbbr062-tales-of-the-90s-hardcore
And the revival goes on!
https://doomcorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/90s-gabber-revival
Interesting experimental techno / electronica release on Nkisi's label.
https://tadleeh.bandcamp.com/album/dribbling-int002
Hardcore Techno! We do listen to it!
https://gabbaretrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gbbr065-nobody-listens-to-techno
This is the real rough shit.
https://nonewstyle.bandcamp.com/album/acroasis-e-p-nns-05-d
New Ingler! Will be also out on vinyl in may.
https://aneurysmrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/ingler-citywalk-e-p
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
"Ghosts... of the Civil Dead" and the tracks it inspired
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
"Ghosts... of the Civil Dead" is a powerful and unsettling film directed by John Hillcoat, which tells the story of life in a maximum-security prison. The film is set in an Australian prison, but its themes are universal and apply to prisons and detention centers all over the world. "Ghosts... of the Civil Dead" was released in 1988 and has since gained a reputation as a cult classic.
The film is a collaboration between Hillcoat, writer Evan English, and musician Nick Cave, who also appears in the film. Cave's music plays a central role in the film, setting the tone for the bleak and brutal world it portrays.
The film is divided into three acts, each of which is introduced by a title card that highlights the themes of the upcoming section. The first act, "Crisis," sets the stage for the rest of the film. We are introduced to the prison and its inmates, most of whom are violent and dangerous criminals. The prison is overcrowded, and tensions are high. The guards are corrupt and brutal, and the prisoners are subject to abuse and violence on a daily basis.
The second act, "Repression," delves deeper into the lives of the prisoners. We see how they are treated by the guards and how they cope with the harsh conditions of the prison. The film explores the psychological toll that life in prison takes on the inmates, as well as the impact it has on their families and loved ones on the outside. The prisoners are dehumanized and stripped of their dignity, and the film does not shy away from showing the brutal reality of their existence.
The third act, "Punishment," is the most intense and brutal of the three. The prisoners stage a riot, and the film becomes a harrowing depiction of violence and chaos. The riot is fueled by the prisoners' frustration and anger, and it quickly spirals out of control. The guards respond with extreme force, and the prisoners are subject to even more violence and abuse. The film does not provide easy answers or resolutions to the violence, instead, it highlights the cycle of violence and abuse that perpetuates itself in the prison system.
The film is shot in a documentary-style, which adds to its realism and intensity. The camera is often handheld, and the lighting is dim and moody. The film's use of close-ups and tight framing serves to emphasize the claustrophobic and oppressive nature of the prison.
"Ghosts... of the Civil Dead" is not an easy film to watch. It is brutal, intense, and unrelenting in its portrayal of life in a maximum-security prison. However, it is also an important film that shines a light on the dark and often-hidden world of the prison system. The film's themes of violence, oppression, and dehumanization are as relevant today as they were when the film was released over thirty years ago.