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Writer's pictureMartin van Zeelandt / TCD

Oldskool Johnny - Decade Of Early Hardcore (2024)


In June I discovered a set at Decade 2023 by Oldskool Johnny. His names is unknown to me, so I gave that set a go. And boy, was I surprised! His set blew me away. His next set (which I found on Soundcloud), was the one recorded at Ghosttown 2024. That one was even better than Decade's mix. He is making waves in the Hardcore scene, and slowly showing his skills as not only a wicked DJ but also a fantastic producer, who is keen on keeping the early Hardcore sound alive and kicking.

And regulars to this website know that I've got an unending amount of love for the Early Hardcore sound. I grew up during the 90s, and experienced a lot. It slowly faded into darkness at the end of the 90s/beginning of the Millennium, but it is coming back. There's a handful of producers out there, who are willing to give their all, to keep the oldskool sound alive. One of them being Oldskool Johnny.


At this year's Decade, Oldskool Johnny played in the Hardlaw area, alongside Drokz, Vandal!sm, Hellcreator, and more. There were also two other areas, one for Early Hardcore and the other for Early Frenchcore. Vince, Painbringer, Bass-D, J.D.A., Chosen Few, Dione, Arjuna, Tellurian, G-Town Madness, The Sickest Squad, Death By Design, and many more. A good looking line-up, and I'm guessing that the set you are about to listen to, was recorded at this event. Some are re-recorded, as the original recording had issues. But this sounds live, if that makes sense?


What has he got in store for us?


  1. RETRO & Oldskool Johnny - This Is Decade Of Early Hardcore

  2. Crushjaw - Grazytown

  3. Dr Zombie - Let Me Go

  4. Totenkore - Mind Bending

  5. Cacophony Of Sounds - Coming Out Swinging

  6. DnD - The Movement

  7. 220Bpm Junkie - Bloodlust

  8. Oldskool Johnny - Psychopath

  9. Januskopf - Flamethrower

  10. Oldskool Johnny - Wildstyle

  11. Oldskool Johnny - Bloodstring

  12. Cacophony Of Sounds - A Reason To Kill

  13. Oldskool Johnny - Fuck

  14. D-Stort & Oldskool Johnny - No-Style

  15. Reactivate & Lost Munanos - Dirty Minded

  16. Oldskool Johnny - Long Distance Call

  17. Oldskool Johnny - My House

  18. Oldskool Johnny - Turn Back Time

  19. Oldskool Johnny & RETRO - Revolution (Original Mix)

  20. Biodome - My Name Is Cocaine

  21. 220Bpm Junkie - House Music (Oldskool Johnny Remastered Version)

  22. Geoff Da Chef - Enter Dimension (Oldskool Johnny Remastered Version)

  23. Chrono & Geoff Da Chef - Zero Calibration (Oldskool Johnny Remastered Version)


This looks really great. If you are unaware of Oldskool Johnny, this could be a great introduction, right? The majority are his own records, but there's a few made by others. So you get the best of both worlds, and that's what we need.


From the first to the last record, he keeps the pace at a steady level. He keeps us entertained, and if I was there, at Decade, I would have raved my ass off. It has got the energy, and it goes on like this for an hour. This is a tremendously insane set with some bonkers anthems. And a big nod to the 90s in each record. They might be new, but they 'sound' old, and that's just the perfect combination.


Toward the end, Oldskool Johnny makes sure that we leave the set with a 'beep' sound in our ears, and our feet are nearly bleeding. The pace goes up and up, just the way it should be. No mucking about, rave till we can't rave no more.


Best record? 'Psychopath'. Big anthem.


Again, I don't know much about Oldskool Johnny, but I do love the records he makes. Thankfully because of artists such as Oldskool Johnny, the early has never died. It's ALIVE!


DJ: Oldskool Johnny

Genre/Style: Early Hardcore, Gabber, Gabba

Liveset Info: Recorded @ Decade Of Early Hardcore 2024

Length Liveset: 01:02:22

Tracks: 23 (twenty-three)

Download/Listen (via Soundcloud): STREAM HERE

File Size: unknown

File Type: unknown

Audio: Stereo

Sample Rate: unknown

Release Year: 2024



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