15 Years of Hardstyle: The Evolution of a Genre

For years, the Donkey Rollers have made a major impact on the Hardstyle scene. For example, their classic track “Followers” inspired many artists to innovate and create the signature kicks that we hear in high quality productions today. Working closely with all kinds of artists, they have played a major role in nurturing and defining our beloved music style for 15 years, delivering the typical Donkey-style to Hard Dance music

Now, the Donkeys have decided to bless us with an album titled ‘15 Years of Hardstyle’ which contains two CDs. Previews have made it clear that the first CD will feature classics from the Donkey Rollers with a modern-day vibe, giving various artists the opportunity to Remix their tracks and continue the Donkey Rollers legacy. As a tribute to their album, I would like to highlight some of the tracks that caught my attention.

Obviously, multiple Fusion artists received the honour of remixing a Donkey track. First off, rising star Avana did an outstanding job in remixing the InQontrol Anthem 2008: “The Last City on Earth”, adding a euphoric touch to the track while keeping the epic atmosphere that defines a great anthem.

Mastermind Apexx also claimed a spot on the album. With his remix of “Justice for All”, Apexx proves once again that he thrives on top of the Hardstyle food chain. Apexx is steadily working his way up, leaving his mark on the scene. With this remix, he once again shows both his innovative half and his ruthless half. Definitely one for the books.

With a signifying eerie style, Requiem transformed “Voice of Conscience” to a mind-altering piece of art. This is the kind of banger that instantly changes the atmosphere on the dancefloor, forcing everyone to seize whatever social interaction is taking place to face the DJ with their ugliest bass face.

Who else could the Donkey Rollers have chosen to remix their classic “The Sound Of The Beast” rather than the beast of Fusion himself? Titan managed to elevate this masterpiece to even higher levels, leaving the core of the track as close to the classic as possible while adding his own aggressive, brutal sound. An absolute RAW banger!

However, not only Fusion artists have been chosen to be part of this already legendary album. Even Phuture Noize, who just released his own state of the art album, ‘Pursuit of Thunder’ managed to devote time and energy to add value to ‘15 Years of Hardstyle’. His remix of “Not Afraid” is equal to divine awesomeness; but let’s be honest, everything this man touches turns to gold, right?

One particular artist absolutely blew me away. ‘The Fusion of Sound’ is the first Hardstyle track I have ever heard and for this reason, I initially wasn’t too stoked to hear that even this musical relic would be remixed. I guess you can call it the “hands-off feeling” that you sometimes hear people talk about when it concerns one of their favourite songs being remixed. However, how I have been proven wrong. Legend DJ Isaac did more than an amazing job in rejuvenating this track. To describe the result in one word: Wow.

So, what else could possibly make this album even better then what it is already promising to be? Well, what about classics, new productions and some unreleased material? Hell yeah! The second CD of this album will be filled with all the great sounds that made us fall in love with the Donkeys. Some of the tracks that will be featured are, “Der Rammachine”, Showtek’s “kwartjes” remix of “No One Can Stop Us”, and arguably, Donkey Rollers biggest hit in their 15-year history, “D.O.N.K.E.Y”.

The last two tracks that I would like to mention stand out from the album in all aspects. The first track is the highly-anticipated collaboration between the Donkey Rollers and Noisecontrollers, and the end results is astonishing. Every layman can hear the surgical precision of the sound design in ‘Human Enemy’. An instant classic.

The second track is the successor of “Vitruvius” by the Donkey Rollers and B-Front. From the moment, the first thunder strike vibrates through the sound system, you know something epic is about to take place. And you are not disappointed. See for yourself how “Magic of Immortality” transports you to a whole new dimension with otherworldly kicks and sharp synths that literally pluck at your soul as if playing the harp with it.

For 15 years, the Donkey Rollers have remained on the frontier of Hardstyle. It is paramount to realise that the music we all love so much wouldn’t have been the same weren’t it for them. The album takes you on a musical journey, not only displaying how the artist evolved, but also showing the evolution of a music genre. Massive respect and support for the Donkey Rollers and ’15 Years of Hardstyle’.

Up to the next 15 years!