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Review of Octane's Opening Night

This article is about Octane Vs Squelcher @ seOne in London (UK), Sat 14 Nov

Hardstyle is the marmite of Hard Dance, you either love it or hate it.

Personally I’m a massive fan, and have been a follower since my first listen to a Sean Demaine demo in 2002 and then a trip to the Berlin love parade back in 2003, with the Night bass DJ team firmly cementing a love for the style in my musical tastes. Its been around for quite a while now, with a slow and steady progress into most hard dance nights in the capital and the country. I remember Cally and Juice playing the last set at Frantic vs. Sundissential back in 2003, the only hard style set of the night, but if you look at the line ups now, you are seeing the likes of Alex Kidd, Frisky, Cally and Juice amongst others taking up 2 or 3 hours of the run time which juts goes to show that its popularity has gained quite a momentum. Over in Wales there’s the huge Bionic, which has grown into one of the UK’s favourite nights and has been showcasing international artists along with a good mix of up and coming DJ’s over the past 9 years.

But as of yet there is no night in London purely for the harder styles, that is until NOW…

Octane at mass. I had seen this advertised back in may time and straight away knew that I had to get down there. On arrival there a small group of Performers called the Disciples of Annihilation outside spinning fire which I thought was a nice touch, certainly made the passer by a little intrigued, gauging the look on a couple of peoples faces as they walked past!

Swift entry into mass, and then the long walk upstairs to one of the smaller rooms in the complex of the old church. One of my favourite tunes of the mo was being thumped out, Recession by the Prophet, and the place was busier than I had expected, with the sound system sounding spot on, decoration and lights sorted out, I was pleasantly surprised by it all to be honest! It was nice to see that a lot of effort had been placed on setting the scene, and the main thing that I noticed was the sheer diversity of the crowd. Older people, youngsters, the Hardstyle shufflers, cyber's spinning poi and staff, sweaty tops off youths in tracksuit bottoms, all with a big smile on their faces.

First DJ on when we got there was Kozmix, who played a nicely put together set, quite a lot of the newer stuff being played yet without too much cheese of the ‘nu-style’ sound in there that seems to be swamping the Dutch scene at the moment. Next up on the decks were Double D, ( Dixon and Demp-z ) who picked up the pace a fair bit with their style and enthusiasm and tune choice. These guys were spot on, they played a lot of older stuff which I tend to prefer over the ‘nu style’, the mixing was again nice and tight and even one of my favourite tunes, ‘what you feel ‘by Dj Brush got an airing. The place had seen an influx of people by now, and the room was nicely busy with enough room to bounce around yet not too empty that you feel somewhat isolated from others.

Next up was Steinbeck, who once again threw down an enthusiastic, well put together set, a mix of old (Trance Generators "Do you wanna balloon" got a good response from all) and new and took it in a slightly different direction.

Next up was D4RK, out of the line up this was the one DJ who I had known about, having been playing out for quite a few years in London. From what a few people were saying and after a listen to his demo’s this was going to be a hard as nails set, which he certainly delivered. A lot of the hardcore being produced at the moment over in Holland certainly has a lot of energy behind it and due to the high level of production available now the noise factor of it seems to be disappearing. D4RK really went for it, playing some big tunes such as angerfist’s remix of the Playahs ‘Mastah of shock’ as well as Endymions remix of ‘Scrap attack’ too. After this , a few minutes were taken out to get some air and a bit of rest as the legs had taken a bit of a battering, so I took the opportunity to speak to a few people. Everyone was loving the night, making comment on the quality of the tunes, set up and the atmosphere. Always good to hear this from the people who have paid the money to come, in fact I don’t think I saw anyone not having a good time.

We went back in to see Nutty T after the rest, I was intrigued to see where he would go with his set given the torrent of bass given out by D4RK before him, but the place was still lively and the set he was playing seemed to just about to carry the burden of carrying the night on, this bole is a monster behind the decks, swinging around the place like Tarzan, really keeping the crowd on its toes. After a little while though tiredness set in and the drive back home was looming, so me and the girlfriend left a bunch of happy smiley people, with huge smiles on our faces too.

As for an opening night, I was highly impressed, the music policy was spot on, the standard of DJ’ing was exceptional and the effort made by the promoters was evident to see. The crowd as diverse as it was, has got to be the most enthusiastic I have seen for a while, with people from all sorts of walks of life enjoying the unity of the sound. Any gripes, none as such, the only thing that I would change would to possibly put D4RK or any similar style DJ’s on an hour or 2 later just due to the pace and hardness, but on this occasion I was glad he played when he did as I got to see him.

I for one hope that the night continues to grow, which I’m sure it will do, and if your after a night out with hard music, and want a good atmosphere, look up Octane! You wont go far wrong!

Review by Mark Grange

READY FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF HARDSTYLE?

Octane Vs Squelcher
14th November @ a Secret Location!
LIMITED £5 EARLY BIRDS AVAILABLE NOW!

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Comments

Laser-eyed

I'm actually very pissed off now I know what I missed out on. Grr! not missing out on the next one lol. Glad to hear Steinbeck got a gd reaction on the night though.

Top notch review Gol! I'll cya at the next one

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

RavinPrincess-NDT

told you to come.... ..hmmmm...

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

Laser-eyed

lol I know I know. I'm not missing this one though.

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

RavinPrincess-NDT

you cant... you definately wont get away with missing another one....

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

GolGotha

Laser-eyed said:

I'm actually very pissed off now I know what I missed out on

*points and laughs*

You have no-one to blame but yourself....hope you've learnt your lesson! ;-)

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

Xenocist

every1 point and laugh

Who laughed: princess-mayhem, Woodz-HN and GolGotha
Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

Laser-eyed

RavinPrincess-NDT said:

you definately wont get away with missing another one....

eep! >_<

GolGotha said:

hope you've learnt your lesson! ;-)

I know n I have. Thou shou not forsake demonic hardstyle events

Who laughed: D-E-S-T-I-N-Y, GolGotha and Steinbeck
Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

Steinbeck

Laser-eyed said:

Glad to hear Steinbeck got a gd reaction on the night though.

Cheers fella, me too!

Great review, summed up the night really well - great night, great atmosphere, just great!

Bring on the next one!

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

D4RK

Awesome review, and very very pleased everyone shared the same opinion of the event.

Octane vs Squelcher is coming Saturday 14th November... bigger, badder, louder than before...
Miss this one and you're madder than a March Hare in July!

... As promised.. full Line up and Venue to be announced this evening ;)

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

RavinPrincess-NDT

remember the threat last time laser??????...... you have been warned.... ; )

Who laughed: Laser-eyed
Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

D-E-S-T-I-N-Y

Laser-eyed said:

Thou shou not forsake demonic hardstyle events

golly nicked this on faced booked it so i nicked face booked to :D

* please dont point and laugh at me i was on my way there GOD forsakened my trip and blow my tire on the moter way just by bristol i was well up set :(

DEFO 100000% AT THE NEXT ONE i come up early just to make sure i gets there :)

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

Steinbeck

D-E-S-T-I-N-Y said:

blow my tire on the moter way

Nasty! At least your uninjured so you can make the next one! ;)

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug

GolGotha

D-E-S-T-I-N-Y said:

* please dont point and laugh at me i was on my way there GOD forsakened my trip and blow my tire on the moter way just by bristol i was well up set :(

*Giggles* Oh my days, still can't believe that happened! You should of got the train back from Bionic with lil Golly :)

D-E-S-T-I-N-Y said:

DEFO 100000% AT THE NEXT ONE i come up early just to make sure i gets there :)

I will of moved by then, so you can crash at Golly's Pad ;-) Ahhh Yeahhhh *thrusts*

Reply Quote
Posted Mon 24 Aug