The year is 1999, the year Prince a.k.a. TAFKAP was singing about. And Hardcore was on its last legs. The culture was changing, and it started to move more and more underground. But as bad as it was, it also had a few positives: a lot of wicked CDs were released. The album I'm talking about now was released in 1999, but wasn't the only one in the series. It started 3 years earlier, with the release of mixed CDs by Buzz Fuzz, Lady Dana, and DJ Weirdo. It then had a triple CD release in 1997 twice, with one being the American Edition, with DJ Omar Santana, Rob Gee, and Delirium, and the next one was focussed on Rotterdam, with Paul, Rob, and Waxweazle all jumping behind the decks. In 1998 only one CD was released, with The Darkraver, Gizmo, and Isaac mixing Hardcore tunes together, and in 1999 this CD was released alongside another one, which was mixed by The Masochist, Miro, and Neophyte. But the one today is all about Marc Acardipane, Promo, and The Stunned Guys.
I might be absolutely wrong, which I often am, but I think this was the only compilation which I had all CDs from. And I devoured them all. It became so bad that after a while the CDs became unplayable due to the amount of scratches. Seriously, this in par with Thunderdome was the most played CD series in my history. And that's not a lie. Well, maybe I played the Yabba Dabba Dance series more, but that's just because it was my first CD ever.
All jokes aside, this mix series is really good. If you are too young and you weren't around back then and you want to be introduced to the 'early' sound, this compilation is worth spending your time on. You got the finest producers and DJs, all on these glorious CDs. Quality tunes, quality mixes. Seriously, this is a line up of artists most events can only dream of. And the music, as mentioned many times before, was way better than the present day Hardcore. But is that because I'm getting old?
In only three years it came and went at the same time. Maybe revamp this mix series with the new legion of artists? Could be a nice return to a mighty series.
The triple CD I am into at the moment is the one with Marc Acardipane, Promo, and The Stunned Guys. If you haven't listened to this one already, you are missing out on some bangers. Which ones you might ask? Well, these:
CD 1: The Stunned Guys
Turbolenza - Master Of The Universe
The Reactor & Raoul meet Impulse Factory - Rock My World
The Stunned Guys - In The Name Of Juno's
Neophyte - Anybody Out There
Evil Activities - Darkness At Noon
E-Man - Bass Machine
The Stunned Guys - Deep Impact
DJ Rob & The Future - What Do We Die For?
G-Town Madness - So Real
Tommyknocker & MC Lob - Strike
Neophyte vs Stunned Guys - Revolution 909
DJ Niel - The Sound From The Deep
DJ Lancinhouse meets The Stunned Guys - Brain Confusion
The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul - Thrillseeka
The Stunned Guys - She
Buzz Fuzz - King Of The Beats
Men Of Steel - The Future Is Ours
The Headbanger - The Nightmare Man
The Stunned Guys - Mind Controller
The Stunned Guys - I Am A Gabber
CD 2: DJ Promo
Intro - The Darkness
Catscan & DJ Promo - Midnight Impact
DJ Promo - Up Yours
DJ Promo - Emotions Over Anger
Miro - Shining
E-Man - E-Shifter
Mad-E-Fact - The Hustle
DJ Promo - King Of Pain
The Masochist - Killing Scum (DJ Promo meets Shaolin Remix)
DJ Promo - What The Fuck?
DJ Niel - The Sound From The Deep
DJ X-Ess & DJ Promo - Vicious Circle
DJ Promo - Driven By Instinct
DJ Promo - Metal Warfare
G-Shock - Demons
Evil Activities - What's Inside Me?
DJ Paul & The Stunned Guys - Thrillseeka
DJ Arjuna - Totally Lost
Hard Creation - I Will Have That Power
Neophyte - Number One Fan
Turntable Disciples - Vortex
Outro - We'll Meet Up Again
CD 3: The Stunned Guys
Mescalinum United - Sounds From Jupiter
Tilt! - Hell-E-Copter
The Rapist - Mortal Fear
The Masochist - Killing Scum (DJ Promo meets Shaolin Remix)
E-Man - E-Shifter
Max-E-Crew - Dance Of Death (Deadly Mix)
Bulldozer Project - Something Special
The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul - Thrillseeka (Marc Acardipane Mix)
DJ Promo - Emotions Over Anger
Neophyte - Real Hardcore
Marshall Masters - Eternal
Rave Creator - E-Razor
Endymion - Failure
E-Man - Bass Machine
Sound Enhancers - Arena Creations
Miro - The Shining
Rave Creator - Wake Up
E-Rush - Fuck You Man (Army Of Darkness Remix)
Pilldriver - Apocalypse Never
Mescalinum United - Live In Brixton
One of the first things I've noticed, which I've never noticed before, is the fact that certain tracks were played in multiple mixes, like for example 'Thrillseeka' and 'E-Shifter' and 'Bass Machine'. Nowadays you might think that's not original, but I look at it from another perspective: these tracks were just so damn good, they had to be repeated. And it is what binds all these DJs together: love for the music. As diverse as their mixes were, they still had a lot in common, music wise.
OK, let's get this over with: my best record of each disc. It was difficult, but the choice is as follows:
CD 1 : Men Of Steel - The Future Is Ours
CD 2 : Neophyte - Number One Fan
CD 3 : Bulldozer Project - Something Special
You know these tracks make sense. It was really difficult, in my honest opinion. Like there were so many great tracks to choose from. And each DJ brought their own vision to the table, and gave us a very special mix. Obviously the Stunned Guys, Promo, and Marc Acardipane selected a shit ton of their own records, but it's oh so damn worth it.
As the scene was dying, the music still remained great. Well, at least the non-commercial side of Hardcore. And these three CDs prove my point. It is one of my most favourite CDs of all time, closely followed by the other Heroes Of Hardcore CD by Miro, The Masochist, and Neophyte. A great compilation, with fantastic tracks selected. Is it perfect? The mixing could have been at certain times be slightly better, but it's 1999, times were different.
The power behind this compilation can still be felt in 2021. 22 years later, and I'm still raving on about this compilation. One you must certainly listen to, if you want to indulge yourself into the era we call the 90s (it's more like Millennium Hardcore stuff, but who fucking cares?)
DJ: Marc Acardipane, DJ Promo, The Stunned Guys
Genre/Style: Hardcore, Gabber, Doomcore, Millennium Hardcore
CD Info: Heroes Of Hardcore - Marc Acardipane/DJ Promo/The Stunned Guys
Length CD: 03:30:47
Tracks: 62 (sixty-two)
Release Year: 1999
Label: Arcade & ID&T
Product Number: 9902365
More Information: ----------
Listen/Download (via Soundcloud): CLICK HERE / CLICK HERE / CLICK HERE
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