UK Hardcore Spotlight: AAN’s Top 20 UK Hardcore Tracks of 2016

A new year is very nearly upon us but before we say “out with the old, in with the new”, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the finest rave music of 2016 as we count down Alive At Night’s favourite UK Hardcore tunes of the year!

(Cover photo credit: Westfest)

#20 Jakka-B – Heal My Heart

A bouncy track with big breakdowns featuring funky, soulful vocals, “Heal My Heart” is one of the biggest tunes to date from Jakka-B.

#19 Scott Brown – Promise (Outforce Remix)

“Promise” is absolute stand-out track by the always-excellent hardcore master Scott Brown, this one being on the harder end of the UK Hardcore sound. I was so happy to hear this track do the rounds again as a brilliant remix by Outforce.

#18 Eufeion – Up Above

Eufeion has been in the hard dance scene for a number of years producing tracks spanning many different styles, most recently turning his attention to uplifting UK Hardcore tracks like “Up Above”.

#17 Nanobii – Rave OK

Often preferring to be represented online by an avatar rather than a photograph, Nanobii is a Swedish musical genius whose happy raver persona shines through in his exceptional musical creations.

#16 MOB & Callum Higby – Creation

Everything MOB has touched this year has been lit as can be and Callum Higby is following fast in his footsteps having joined the label Lethal Theory this year. “Creation” is a beautiful blend of elements of both artists signature sounds.

#15 Scott Brown & M-Project – Crash The Party

Both Scott Brown and M-Project consistently manage the impressive feat of producing both quantity and quality of music, delighting and inspiring fans and fellow artists around the world. “Crash The Party” is just one of several brilliant tracks these two artists have collaborated on this year.

#14 Fracus & Darwin vs Michael Mansion – Don’t Let Me Go

This beautiful track, “Don’t Let Me Go”, by Fracus & Darwin in collaboration with USA artist Michael Mansion, features on the new “Hardcore Heaven” album, as do several of our other favourite tracks of the year! With one CD mixed by Fracus & Darwin and the other CD mixed by MOB, “Hardcore Heaven” is exclusively available from hardcoreunderground.co.uk as a bundle including two mix CDs and download access to all of the full length tracks.

Photo: Hardcore Heaven arena at Westfest 2016, UK. Photo credit: Westfest.

#13 JTS ft Harri Rush – Forever

Taken from the “Gridlock” album by JTS & Technikore, this UK Hardcore cover of a familiar dance classic blends fresh, modern production by JTS with superb vocals by Harri Rush.

#12 Reflux & Joey Riot – The Other Side (Macks Wolf remix)

“The Other Side EP” was the 100th release on the Scarred Digital label. The original version of this track was actually a Raw Hardstyle track but for UK Hardcore fans the version that really hit the spot was the Macks Wolf remix.

#11 Callum Higby – Bass Face

Callum Higby is leading the way in the nu-skool UK Hardcore sound, taking influences from current electronic music styles beyond the hard dance arena and creating tracks that also have wide appeal outside of the regular UK Hardcore fan base.

#10 JTS & Technikore ft Emi – Siren

This breathtaking melodic vocal hardcore track makes my heart skip a beat every time I hear it. Released in January this year, “Siren” was an instant favourite track that made us realise that UK Hardcore would be a very big deal indeed in 2016.

#9 Sound Rush – Take Me Back (Kutski & Darren Styles Remix)

Kutski teamed up with Darren Styles to give the “Does It Sound Good At 170?” treatment to this Hardstyle track by Sound Rush. The Sound Rush boys themselves even dropped this remix in their mainstage set at Defqon.1 this summer!

#8 MOB & Enemy – Speak English

MOB & Enemy’s highly successful “Album Sessions” series has earned a permanent place in UK Hardcore history. “Speak English” is a fun, bouncy track taken from “The Album – Session Four”, the final instalment in the album series.

#7 Stonebank – Who’s Got Your Love

Stonebank produces a range of electronic music styles, because #fuckgenres, and we’re so very happy that one of those styles is UK Hardcore!

#6 Mark Breeze – Be Alone

This immensely popular track by the legend Mark Breeze has an instantly recognisable euphoric melody and become one of the best known UK Hardcore tunes of the year.

#5 Dougal & Gammer – Shoulder Lock

Dougal and Gammer’s musical partnership continues to be as strong as ever and they continue to be two of the most influential artists in UK Hardcore, creating ground-breaking new sounds to push the genre forward yet again.

#4 Da Tweekaz & Darren Styles – Heroes (170bpm mix)

This all new collaboration between the golden boy of UK Hardcore and the mischievous Norwegian princes of Euphoric Hardstyle was released in 150bpm and 170bpm versions and works equally well at either tempo!

#3 MOB & Enemy ft. Nina – Iron Heart

Another absolutely outstanding track taken from the “The Album Session Four”, “Iron Heart” has become a huge anthem hit for MOB & Enemy!

#2 Technikore ft. Emi – Just Be

One of the biggest releases to date from the OneSeventy label, the captivating melody combined with Emi’s amazing vocals have made “Just Be” a worldwide dancefloor favourite.

#1 Re-con & Klubfiller – Chase The Sun

“Chase The Sun” embodies the true spirit of UK Hardcore; piano intro, stunning female vocal, uplifting melody and stomping beat combined to create the ultimate hands-in-the-air, sing-your-heart-out track that always brings a smile to every single face on the dancefloor.