Tropes of Madness and Insanity within Hardcore Techno music

we alluded to mental health topics in the past.

and indeed, "mental illness", insanity, psychological derangement is one of the major recurring themes within hardcore music - and the hardcore community.

the relationship between art and, let's say, "mental conditions", has been documented for a long time in human history, and it is often concluded that this combination can be quite beneficial and healing - to everyone involved.

hardcore techno occupies a special location here, though:

this is not about sitting down and drinking herbal tea or doing yoga, while listen to relaxing "eastern-sounding" ambient recordings and an european-born "guru" telling you to chill the *** down with sour-sweet words.

these artists and tracks give mental health the hardcore treatment. it's an exacerbation of the highest degree and definitely should not be taken at face value, literally, or too "serious" (humor is a great form of therapy, too!).

it's like being shown a very distorted mirror (and the volume levels in these tracks are very distorted too, as i can assure you).

because many people who listen to gabber house tracks about some wicked psychopaths will probably think "hey, my own mental issues, like anxiety at the supermarket or being depressed about my body image, seem quite little compared to the issues *these* folk have".

and this can already be quite relieving to know.

so this stuff should not be taken too serious, this music should not be seen as encouraging or promoting wickedness.

there is a lot of humor involved - a healing form of humor - but yeah, mental health *is* a heavy and serious topic, so take these things with caution.

let's give a trigger warning. this is some *deep* stuff ahead that might feel traumatic or scary to some people.

go on at your own will, at your own cost, and treat this thing with care and in a responsible way.

So let's look at some example tracks now:

1. Critical Mass - Psychotic Break (Lenny Dee & Strychnine Remix) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc_u-nIw3XA "...having a serious psychotic break"
2. Delta 9 - Phreaked - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvEw7T9-iDY "I'm freaking out man... I need medication..."
3. Asylum - Mescalum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZbmhWRXXHU One of the earliest Hardcore tracks... and it's already about an asylum.
4. Turbulence - The Home Of The Sick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOukQpTKU2E A home for the sick could be a hospital... or a mental hospital.
5. Collective Strength - Family Affair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv6Vn7nUkGA Highly disturbing!
6. Disciples Annihilation - You're Dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDDqd9i4oEo evokes sentiments of the overlook hotel...
7. Violent Agression - Shizoid Fukd Soul - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYhRwvNsxn0 german language, sorry... but... "i am not insane! you must listen to me before it's too late!"
8. Mescalinum United - Light Bringer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItEQBcOzr84 "the first sign of psychosis is a christ complex"
9. FFM Shadow Orchestra - Killing Zoo (Cleaner Edit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFxC8KLbi6I "you feel as though the rest of the world is in a bubble of glass and that you're rubbing up against it like a bad windshield wiper."
10. Ralphie Dee - Mad As Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeY3OWLdEH0 "this is mass madness, you maniacs!"
11. The Kotzaak Klan - Sikk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cX0ltdbPSQ "a sick man... mentally sick".

Further Examples:

• Mind Candy - Mind Destroyer
• The Berzerker - Forever
• Terrorists - Paranoia
• Dr. Macabre - Alone In The Dark
• Noisegate - Goddamn' Mind
• Ectomorph - Blow Your Mind
• Noface - Hallucinate
• Random Rampage - Psycho
• DJ Promo - Psychostyle

Read more about Hardcore Techno and Mental Health here: https://thehardcoreoverdogs.blogspot.com/p/the-mental-hardcore-health-newsletter.html