Thumpa pres. Dance Or Die! Vol 3 (1997 / 1998 Thunderdome Anthems) (2026)

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD
4 days ago
3 min read

It's Monday already. Where has the weekend gone? Truly astonishing how quickly time goes, especially when you are getting older and older. Valentines day only feels like yesterday, but it's now 2 days ago. Regardless, I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and that you were spoiled and you spoiled the one you love. And now, back to reality, and something I truly love. Hardcore music. It might not be your cup of tea, but it is certainly mine. But I do take mine with sweetener (maybe that's why I love Happy Hardcore?).

DJ Thumpa started uploading some brand spanking new mixes, all dedicated to Thunderdome. There are now four mixes in this series, and they are gorgeous, to start with. I love the fact that the images he has used for each mix, use a distinctive look from a Thunderdome album from back in the day. The one you are about to listen to, shows Thunderdome 16, 17, and 20. They were great albums, but the decline was slowly visible. Obviously the earlier albums were better, but there were some hidden gems on these later Thunderdome albums.

I did buy most of the Thunderdome CDs, and have listened to them ferociously. The 90s were my years, and during those years, I've driven many people mad with my obsession for Hardcore. And probably caused some ear damage by playing it out loud. Maybe too loud? Who knows. But how else can you enjoy Hardcore music? Not at minimum level, this needs to be played out loud.

I could have picked any of the four mixes, but I've chosen this one, as the tracklist did something to me. Made me feel a bit excited inside. And that's what you want, right?

Mister DJ - Completely Fucked Up (2nd Approach)
DJ Sim - Simbiosis
Cixx vs The Vinyl Junk - The Tough Guys
Miss Flower - Mr. Randall
Urban Menace - Phenomena
Hardcore Brothers - Smoke Motherfuckers
Rotterdam Terror Corps - We're Gonna Blow Your Mind
The Masochist - No Newstyle? (DJ Buzz Fuzz Mix)
Pino D'Ambini - Up & Down Ballz
DJ Isaac - Another Dream
Bodylotion - No Worries
Leviathan - Yes, No
Myztic vs Myrmidon - Pop Goes Da Pistol
Buzz Fuzz - Frequencies
Da Mindcrusher - Mindcrushing
Scumbag - Hit The Crowd
Buzz Fuzz - Fuck Happy (Its Bullshit!)
3 Steps Ahead - Money In My Pocket
Shadowlands Terrorists - Shadowlands Anthem
Bodylotion - Happy Is Voor Hobo's
3 Steps Ahead - Thunderscream (Thunder Anthem)

Wow. I feel 25 years younger again. Or a bit more. Some of these songs are older than 25 years, and it makes me feel fucking old. Christ. Thanks Thumpa, for making me feel old.

Old, but rejuvenated. This brings all my happy thoughts to the surface, and even though not many people around me share the same feelings regarding Hardcore from the 90s, as long as my inner self is happy and content. And I'm certainly content with everything after listening to this mix.

It's a nice selection of records. A few lesser tracks, but hey ho, can't please everybody. But it has got the tracks in it which made me listen to Hardcore at max volume. 'Yes, No' is one of them. An underrated 90s gem. But the ones which makes me feel something, are definitely 'Tough Guys' and 'Simbiosis'. The bass on both tracks, it is just insane. I can make our whole house tremble with these two songs. Haven't played it in the car yet, but I reckon the speakers will be damaged, my eardrums too, and the windows will be shattered.

A very pleasant mix to listen to. If these two years aren't your cup of tea, have a browse through the other 3 mixes on Thumpa's Soundcloud channel. Worth a listen to.

Bring back the 90s Hardcore! Hardcore will never, ever, die. That's for sure! We all might age, but Hardcore never does, nor will it ever. Timeless music.