A look at overlooked hardcore-adjacent releases of the 1990s

Hello,
That's what we do. Or rather, our main focus.
Listing, reviewing, showcasing Hardcore releases (and similar genres) that created major (or minor) waves of shock when they saw the light of day in the 90s.
But might be overlooked or forgotten now.

Note: No AI was used in writing this text.

So let's get it on!

Tanith - T2 EP (BASH 04)

Tanith was once claimed to be the "hardest DJ on earth", for a short period in time... when the Berlin Underground was still ruled by zany Hardcore Techno.
This record is a showcase of this. In all the "early" Gabber, Hard Techno, whatever kind of music world... this is one of the most dystopian, the most anti-human, the most teeth-flashing around...
As if it was really done by a Terminator and not a human being.
Pioneer work from the ground up. I'd say what "Iron Man" was to Heavy Metal (the song, not the movie character, you fools), "T2" is for Hardcore and Gabber.

Lenny Dee - Untitled (ETC 131)

Just "Lenny Dee" in white lettering on the cover - a nice touch.
Each track is a 5/5 here, and each in its own way.
There is "Baby" and "Microdot", and these are really sweet acid-trance-techno things... with a NYC feel, imho, cuz their Techno always felt more isolated, cold, technological than on mainland Europe.
And there are "Hammerhead" and "Bug Spray". Hammerhead might own the claim of being one of the earliest tracks with a real brutal "Gabber" type of kick. And both tracks are gnawing, gnashing, caustic, industrial, infernal Hardcore masterpieces!

Cyberchrist - Information : Revolution (Praxis 16)

imho cyberchrist always was one of "the speed freak"'s most interesting projects.
and this 12" is outstanding, too.
yeah, there are some killer terror-gabba tracks at the start of each side. highly recommended.
but then... the second tracks.

there is a completely arhythmic hardcore/industrial track on side A. loud, and very minimalistic / futuristic at the same time.
imagine Schwarzenegger, in his role as the terminator, turning into a b-boy, then firing the gun in every direction, and then doing the same while breaking into a funky dance.

now side b... an ambient composition... with heavy use of frequency-modulation synthesis (martin damm was always quite good at that).
like a nightmare while your sub sinks down, down to 20.000 leagues under the sea.
then you wake up from the nightmare. and are still trapped in this sub.

https://praxisrecords.bandcamp.com/album/information-revolution-praxis-16

I Borg - The Borg Collective E.P. (Battle Trax 02)

A quite singular release, really.
Supposedly based on the beat of an earlier tune by Cybernet System and Dynamix II.
I'd describe the sound as "Hardcore Techno" meets "Electro" - even though "Detroit Techno" purists might disagree here.

All tracks actually sound quite "similar" - there is the abovementioned beat, there are star trek / borg related samples, even a similar bass-bleep...
But it's still a great release, and a true hidden gem in my opinion... futuristic, cold, very hardcore... what more could one ask for!

https://battletrax.bandcamp.com/album/i-borg-the-borg-collective-ep

Society Of Unknowns - Society Of Unknowns (Praxis 24)

collab between christoph fringeli and jason skeet. (and aphasic)
this is one of the earlier breakcore releases... and you can feel that the style was without a "solid framework" yet.
"transversal" is quite close to traditional jungle... while others use distorted, "hardcore" type drums.

i love this one because there is an interesting source of sounds aka samples... musique concrete, contemporary avantgarde from the past... this is more like an intellectual, auteur mode of breakcore...
not some rave/drug fueled low blow stuff.

and the main, sweet, wonderful piece for me is "dead by dawn" - the endless mix.

it's neither breakcore, nor hardcore, or in any genre really. one of a kind.
...like a sound collage, washing over you, voices and despair in the echoes... something reminiscent to steel works or a bell... and lower bass frequencies, too, yeah.

looping on and on. listen to it and maybe you will feel the same way.

https://praxisrecords.bandcamp.com/album/society-of-unknowns-praxis-24



Fast Identities vs. Aversity - Colored Fraud Vol. 1

I guess the reason you have come here is the final track - B3.
And yes, this one's worth going all the way.
Super-dreamy choirs are singing for the first few seconds. Then Acid-Techno-Hardcore madness reigns, down on us.
Other-wordly!

The other tracks are worth a bite or two, too, though!
Acid and Core in full effect. And, as the name suggests, a lot of the tracks are way faster then the other Acidcore output by Mr. Lasse Steen.