Revokez presents: RETROSPECTIVE MELANCHOLIA (Hardstyle Classics) (2026)

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD

1 minute ago

3 min read

Another weekend coming to an end, but it's been a great weekend. I had a fantastic day yesterday, and today has been great, as I was accompanied throughout the day with some glorious Hardstyle anthems from back in the day. You know, way back. The best years of Hardstyle. And Revokez, the DJ behind this mix, had a very nice message under this mix, about Defqon 2009, and how all seemed to be perfect. The music, the atmosphere, the people.. all was well, and to relive those moments, this mix was made!

Thinking of those beautiful years, it might even bring a tear to my eye. Can't believe they are behind us, in the past. It felt like only yesterday, when I was driving down in my Astra sedan (yeah, that was the shizzle), windows down, and a massive stereo system blasting out the tunes for everyone to hear. And obviously I was rocking the Hardstyle anthems, as they are very bass driven, and it made my rear screen of the Astra vibrate. Oh, I miss those days.

This mix has been my entertainment during the weekend, especially today. The weather is a bit meh, not like at a Defqon event (especially this year, it was boiling hot), and I'm sitting indoors, having a Playstation sesh. The game in question, Dying Lights 2, needs some excellent music to accompany it, and Revokez's mix is the right one. An hour and a half, 40 records, couldn't ask for anything more (or less)

1.Noisecontrollers - Interview

2.Dutch Master - Floorspin

3.Wildstylez - Pleasure

4.Headhunterz - Forever Az One

5.Unloaders - Dream Ticket

6.Pradera - Call On You

7.Dozer - We Need Music

8.Bioweapon - Move Your Body (Noisecontrollers Remix)

9.A-Lusion & Scope DJ - Karma Circle

10.Headhunterz - Psychedelic

11.Ambassador Inc - Put This On Youtube (Wildstylez Remix)

12.Bass Modulators - The Cube

13.Pradera - Spirit

14.Unloaders - Critical Hit

15.Frontliner - The First Cut

16.JDX - Wan Taim (The Anarchist Remix)

17.Killer Clown - Silentium

18.D-Block & S-Te-Fan - Ultimate High

19.Noisecontrollers & Toneshifterz - Jaydee

20.InPhase - Here We Go

21.Shockerz - Set Me Free

22.The Raiders - A Feeling (Tuneboy Remix)

23.Headhunterz - The Sacrifice (Brennan Heart Remix)

24.Frontliner - Just A Track

25.Project One - Fantasy Or Reality

26.Southstylerz - Pounding Senses (Deeper Inside Remix)

27.A-Lusion & Scope DJ - Between Worlds

28.Brennan Heart - Remember Remember

29.Frontliner feat. Villain - Who I Am (Scope DJ Remix)

30.Pradera - Think About It

31.The Nasty Boyz - We Are Still Awake (2 Best Enemies Remix)

32.Pradera - Lay Down

33.Wasted Penguinz - Melancholia

34.Wildstylez - The Phantom Beat

35.Bioweapon - Final Transmission

36.Wildstylez & Isaac - Lost In Music

37.The R3bels - Music To Us

38.Wasted Penguinz - Freedom Is Me

39.Frontliner - On The Rise

40.Adaro & Digital Punk - Everyday

This gives me a fuzzy feeling on the inside. It takes me back, to the glorious years when I raved the night away, with these tunes coming out the speakers. You might disagree, and that's all fine, but this was and will remain the finest era of Hardstyle music, by a mile. The quality was insane, and current day Hardstyle wishes it could be as good as it was, back in the day.

Revokez even found a few records that I've not even heard in 10-15 years! That's what makes this mix so interesting: yes, it has got the classics, but also some that just went under the radar. Bring them back to life, and let them penetrate our eardrums forever, and ever.

The nostalgia factor is great. These familiar sounds were part of my youth, and will remain a part of me, even when I'm 80+ years. A raver never stops raving, nor stops loving the music. And this is yet another amazing mix.

Best record? 'Between Worlds'. Fact. If it isn't yours, what is your favourite record?

A solid mix, energetic and euphoric. The weekend might be over soon, but a working week is ahead, and I definitely need this, to entertain me throughout.