Thunderdome 2025 | Catscan vs. Promo

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD
Jan 31
4 min read

Thunderdome. An institute. A legacy from the early 90s. A brand still kept alive, and for good reason. Many would say that without Thunderdome we would not have a scene as big as it is today. Thunderdome is indeed legendary, and most of us grew up with those legendary songs from the Thunderdome compilations and many have visited the event. Unfortunately, I did not visit last year's edition, which was sold out quicker than I could blink my eyes. The line-up was insane, it was a raver's wet dream! 6 areas filled with the finest acts out there.

But the one which stood out the most, was an opening set by Catscan vs. Promo. They opened the main area, and had everyone by their balls (or any other reproductive organ). 3 hour long, just Catscan and Promo. And their whole set is now on both YouTube and Soundcloud. And it includes a tracklist, which is obviously insane too.

You can literally see them starting with only 1 individual in the area, and it slowly builds up after the doors opened. In my honest opinion, I don't think I've ever seen a video of an empty area slowly building up. Opening sets are always tricky, as the crowds are coming in, settling in, finding out where everything is, getting drinks etc. And to start off with two of the finest DJs out there, that's something exciting. And they both brough the heat. My God, this set was fire. They made sure the audience were in for a treat!

I don't know how many times I've already listened to this set on Soundcloud, but it still surprised me to hear these two legends for 3 hours, non stop. And the tunes?! They are awesome!

1 Miro - A Better Tomorrow

2 DJ Niel - Battlefield

3 Noize Suppressor - Mysteryland '00

4 Nosferatu - The Underground Stream

5 Catscan & Starving Insect - Merged With Silence

6 Mad Dog - Time

7 Catscan - Love Thy Enemy

8 Floorkiller Project - Nosferatu

9 K Placid - The Roots

10 Promo - Guns 'n Ammo (Under Construction Mix)

11 Catscan - Enemy On The Run

12 The Chicken Farmer - Cyclone (Live 2002 Mix)

13 3 Steps Ahead - Strictly Business (Catscan & X-Ess Love 'N Respect Remix)

14 Miro - Purple Moon (Promo Remix)

15 Base Alert - OjeeOink

16 Promo - What the Fuck (D-Passion Remix)

17 Catscan - Arp

18 Promo - Life From The Other Side

19 Korsakoff - Powerrave

20 Miro - E-Shifter

21 ID - ID

22 Meagashira - Swarm

23 Armageddon Project - Spawn of Misanthropy

24 Outblast - Communication (Catscan Remix)

25 Promo - The Bad Guy

26 Mad Dog & Promo - The Realness

27 SRB - 2 Ure Head

28 Tommyknocker - The Aftermath

29 Catscan & Starving Insect - The Rainmaker

30 Promo - Patterns in Chaos

31 Catscan - My Region

32 Promo - Counter Attack

33 Korsakoff - Separated World

34 Ophidian - Black

35 The Blaster - War Is Coming Man

36 Promo - The First Rebirth

37 Catscan - How Much Can You Take (RMX)

38 Promo - Vicious Circle

39 Catscan - The Agency

40 Promo & Catscan - Midnight Impact

41 Korsakoff - Still Wasted

42 D-Passion - What's Going On?

43 Catscan - Gravedigger

44 Promo - Among the Best

45 Catscan - Dissis

46 Neophyte - Till I Retire

47 Catscan - WOIII

48 G-Shock - Demons (Promo Remix)

49 Catscan & Promo - Lords Of The Underground

50 Promo - I Come Correct

51 Catscan & Starving Insect - The Plaguemaker

52 Neophyte & Panic - Skullcrusher (Catscan Remix)

53 D-Passion - Fuck the Free World

54 ID - ID

55 Promo - Past To The Present

56 DaY-mar - Embrace The Night (Outblast Remix)

57 Catscan - Capture in Distress

58 The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul - Thrillseeka

59 Marc Acardipane - Stereo Murder / Atmosfear (Promo Mashup)

60 Base Alert - Zoo

61 The DJ Producer - The Signal (D-Passion Remix)

62 Catscan & Promo - Toch Welleuk

63 Ophidian - Butterfly V.I.P.

64 Menace II Society vs. Catscan - Chronic Counter

65 Catscan - Drive By

66 ID - ID

67 Neophyte & Promo - Another Dimension

68 Hysta & Korsakoff - Little Things

69 Promo - Phreak Ya Speaka (N-Vitral Re-Phreak)

70 Catscan - Finishing Profiles

71 Promo - Airwalker (Omi Remix)

72 Diss Reaction - Jiiieehaaaa (Angerfist Refix)

73 Promo - Brother Of Conflict

74 Razzle Dazzle Trax - Rattlebrain (Korsakoff Remix)

75 Project Omeaga - Prednison Attack

76 Korsakoff - My Empty Bottle (ID Remix)

77 The Viper - Control the ReFix

78 Unexist - Attack

79 Noize Suppressor - Fingerz

By the time the send is ending, the whole area is filled. For good reasons, as Catscan and Promo got them all excited. The main area opening would happen after they did their set, but they surely got everyone hyped up, and raving their arses off.

I can only say that, out of the 79 records, only one minor record was played. ''Airwalker'' has certainly not been my favourite, but we got to remember that Thunderdome took place near Christmas, so it did fit in well. But yeah, not Promo's finest record.

But which are great? Well, all the 78 other records. A few ID-less records, and it's the first ID-less record which seems to be (according to 1001tracklist.com) Starving Insect & Catscan - The Creeper. If it is, that's one banger of a track. Can't find it anywhere though. The other one which always gets everyone off their chairs and raving is ''Attack'' by Unexist. One of the finest Thunderdome anthems, without a shadow of a doubt.

Last year's edition might not have had good reviews (too busy, issues with payment, queues everywhere etc), but during this set, and just basing my judgment on what I can see, there is nothing wrong. The two legends do their best, and deliver us a mighty set which most of us won't forget. They didn't go in softly, as they were the opening act, and they made sure you didn't forget their set.

Blinding set. Worth checking out, if you haven't already!