Revokez presents: An Ode To The Early Days Of Hardstyle (2025)

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD
4 days ago
3 min read

Last week, or the week before, an event took place in the Brabanthallen in 's Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. The event is called ''Vroeger Was Alles Beter'', and it translates to something similar to ''things used to be beter back in the day''. Obviously referring to the music from the good old days. And I do wholeheartedly agree. Someone who went to this event, had a whale of a time, and decided to make a mix, to honour the early days of Hardstyle, as that seemed to be the main focus of the event. The one in question is Revokez, and his mix is one you have to listen to.

I do love the early days, and have listened to many mixes over the years. And even when it wasn't early but the present day Hardstyle, I bought many albums, and been to a few raves. What Revokez mix did to me, was quite astonishing. It has opened my eyes, and made me realise that I'm not a freaking expert. The majority of songs used for this mix are complete unknowns to me. And here I am, thinking I knew at least 80% of the early Hardstyle anthems. I have to adjust my percentage, as there is a whole world out there I've not discovered, it turns out.

But that's the great thing about these mixes, they do take you back, and realise what you know, and what you've missed. And I've missed a lot. Flipping heck, I should have bought more albums. But most of my money already went on music, and I couldn't get more, as I wasn't making millions of pounds a year. A simple petrol station attendant, that's all, so you can imagine what my income was. And most of it went on music. Life's different now, thankfully.

Let's take a trip back in time, right now!

Headhunterz & Wildstylez feat Villain - Stuck In Ur Head
Tatact - Seiv Mai Nait
Josh & Wesz - Overdrive O
A-Lusion - Don't Wanna Know
Adrenalize - Magical World
D-Block & S-Te-Fan - Dreamers Of Dreamz
Code Black - Brighter Day
Josh & Wesz - Autumn Green
Krusaders - Reinvented
Low-E & Zero Sanity feat Maia - Crusade
Max Enforcer & Waverider - Epic
Second Identity - Atlantis
Technoboy - Vanilla Sky
DJ Phil Ty - Miami Belch (Polite Mix)
Krusaders - Be My Guest
Wasted Penguinz - Freedom Is Mine
Second Identity - Live Without Existing
Activator & Francesco Zeta - Fuoco E Fiamme
The KGBs - Yerba Diabolika (TBY Mix)
Activator & Doctor Zot - Un Disco Per L' estate
Showtek feat MC Stretch - Freak
Citizen - If I Say Stop
Headhunterz - Aiming For Your Brain
Fenix - Drug Collection (Coone Remix)
Tatact - Taac! (Renato Mix)
Showtek - Black 2008
Star Creatorz - Killzone (Hunter Remix)
Dark Oscillators - Nobody Is Perfect
Tatact - Your Body (Tatanka Remix)
Showtek - Save The Day (DJ Yoeri In The Sky Mix)

This sound just take me back so many years. Normally I would immediately go on Google and found out when a track was released, but I cannot bare the thought of finding out that time goes so damn quickly, and I've grown old. Grey hair is already appearing slowly, and my bones & muscles hurt whenever I get out of a chair. When this was hot, I was still young, no care in the world, and my body didn't ache. Times are different.

Revokez's set is great. Currently I'm holding the top spot of most listens, and for good reason. I love me a good set, and this one keeps me on my toes. And again, it has amazed me of how little I know of the early Hardstyle scene. I thought I'd knew everything, but there still enough for me to discover.

There are so many great songs in here, and out of the 30, I had to pick two, as they are both really great. ''Don't Wanna Know'' and 'Be My Guest''. Equally great records. They did make me stomp my feet harder (at home) and raise my hands higher than ever before. Which one is your favourite?

Only love and appreciation for this mix. More of these please, and please dive deeper into the rich history of Hardstyle, like Revokez. These hidden gems need to be rediscovered again, brought back from the dead, or cleaned from the collection of dust. They need to be brought to the forefront, and if you do, it will make a lot of people happy, including yours truly!