I met Lenny Dee about 24 years ago on a flight from Pittsburgh to Milwaukee. We were going to play at Drop Bass Network’s “Genesis” party. I told Lenny it was the first time I’d ever been flown to play at a rave, and I remember him telling me, “And you know the best thing about it? After that, it never stops.” Decades later, I’ve chalked that up as yet another example of Lenny’s ability to glimpse into the future. I’m still flying to play raves in Milwaukee, and we’re all celebrating a quarter century of Industrial Strength Record’s commitment to hard electronic dance music.
The funny thing about it though, is that to me, it still feels like a beginning. When Lenny started Industrial Strength back in 1991, it was ahead of its time, and even today, with the release of this 64 track monster compilation, ISR is still introducing the world to new talent at a frenetic clip. “No Tears For The Dead” pretty much sums up the last 25 years because there hasn’t been time to even pause for much reflection as maximal effort has always been needed to push forward and simply survive.
So, other labels would generally repackage their “hits” after 25 years, but the closest we get to that here is the latest and greatest darlings of the hardcore techno world re-mixing classic tunes. For example, The Sickest Squad remixed “Extreme Terror” and Outside Agency got to remix “Fucking Hostile.”
I’m reminded of a conversation I butted into at the 1994 Winter Music Conference. I overheard a few people remarking about Lenny and his label, marveling about how he could release such hard music. I told them that Lenny was ahead of his time and that one day they would understand what he did… that almost everyone else at the conference was recycling the same stuff and Lenny was a visionary. And you know, my feeling about that hasn’t changed two and a half decades later, and this compilation just pushes the vision and sound even further into the future.
The compilation is available from the following online retailers:
For those of us bound to the sound of the hard electronic, there is still no time for tears. There is still so much work to be done for the future. There might be a few great, shiny compilations of repackaged hits cobbled together by the big festivals this year, but I doubt if any of them will match the intensity and cohesive vision of Industrial Strength Record’s No Tears for the Dead.
The compilation is available from the following online retailers:
Anyone trying to coordinate going to a show with friends knows it isn’t always easy, and this night was no exception. After much anticipation, my friends and I were finally on our way after quite a bit of drama- One friend of mine, Matt, had just spent the last 6hrs in traffic driving to my house all the way from San Diego, while my other friend, Tyler, had a mini-emergency losing his wallet (with his ID) earlier in the day, only to find it again about 20mins before coming to my house, and lastly, my friend Angel wanted us to pick him up on the way to the venue. But at last, the emotional rollercoaster of just wanting to get to the show so we could go party was over, and it was time to go! I had been looking forward to this show for months and my anticipation had built to the point where I was bursting with excitement! The night ahead promised some of the leading names in hardcore, and was to celebrate 25 Years of the Industrial Strength Records label.
Hard Electronic: 25 Year of Industrial Strength Records lineup featured artists Deadly Buda, Cik, Fiend, Rob Gee, Lenny Dee, Tymon, Unexist, The Sickest Squad and Art of Fighters. After passing through security and catching up with some friends, I walked onto the dance floor and prepared myself for the acts I had been looking forward to for months now. I was especially was excited that night to see Art of Fighters, Unexist, The Sickest Squad, Rob Gee and Lenny Dee… it was shortly after seeing the timeslots that I discovered Lenny Dee was not on the lineup. I later found out that Lenny had injured himself and his doctor did not recommend him to fly and risk further injury.
Lenny made the following statement on Facebook to his fans:
“My love goes out to the LA crew for making it happen. Respect. West Coast Kicking Ass!!! Get ready for Hard Electronic 2.0 coming in 2017. There is no stopping what can’t be stopped…”
We wish for your speedy recovery Lenny, but once I learned of your injury I knew that the night must go on as you had intended it to!
At this point, the much-awaited US appearance of Art of Fighters took to the stage. Throughout the crowded room you could see fans waving Art of Fighters and Hardcore Italia flags, and the signature Art of Fighters hardcore sound filled the room with catchy melodies and defiant lyrics. Art of Fighters set included classic tracks including ‘Nirvana of Noise’, and eventually ended with ‘Oh My Sun.’
Art of Fighters at Hard Electronic: 25 Year of Industrial Strength Records, Los Angeles
Following Art of Fighters was Unexist, who changed the atmosphere in the room from the melodies of Art of Fighters, to a much more brutal sound. If Art of Fighters set could be described as ‘energizing’, then Unexist’s set would be described as ‘aggressive.’ One such track that he played that exemplifies this aggressiveness was ‘Devil’s Son”.
As Unexist’s set ended The Sickest Squad took to the stage to bring their own unique brand of Frenchcore (they aptly nicknamed Sickcore) to the party. For me personally, I was just as excited for The Sickest Squad as much as I was for a Frenchcore act to perform, as US doesn’t get much Frenchcore. For those unfamiliar with Frenchcore, the sound is an entirely unique variation of the hardcore sound. Tracks often feature samples of odd instruments not normally heard in electronic music playing symphonic melodies, as well as chanting or rambling of lyrics, and the bass vibrates similar to how reverse bass is for Hardstyle. The Sickest Squad’s set included their classic ‘Boomshakalaka’, as well as their new track with Dr. Peacock ‘Frenchcore Family’ (Vive La Frenchcore 2016 Anthem).
Appropriately slated to close out the night with a dose of Gabber was American legend Rob Gee. Rob started his set by recognizing the Industrial Strength Label for achieving the 25-year milestone, and we all took a moment to pay respect to Lenny Dee who, even though he couldn’t be there with us in person, was certainly there in spirit. Rob opened with one of his classic gabber tracks, ‘Pollywaggachuggabonka’ and ‘Coming At You Strong’, before working in some of his newer tracks ‘Dark Universe’ and ‘Caramba!’ into his set, all while entertaining the crowd with his animated, high energy personality.
Throughout the night I was excited to see so many familiar faces, but one thing that I noticed was a definite, mature presence in the crowd as well. 25 Years of Industrial Strength Records meant that some of these people had been listing to hardcore more years than others at the party had been alive! That night I spoke to several who recounted their memories of their first shows in the 90’s held in warehouses, about their early Industrial Strength and Thunderdome vinyls, and it was interesting to hear their perspective of how the scene had grown and changed over the years. Trauma has a great ability to blend the past and the present in their shows in a really enjoyable way, and I have always respected and appreciated the origins of this scene. Ultimately, I would say the 25 years of the Industrial Strength Records was a massive success entertaining both new and old alike, and I look forward to more hardcore in the future!
Industrial Strength Records held its 25th anniversary party Hard Electronic at The Paper Box in Brooklyn Saturday, November 19th. Pics by Sean Hargrove/Porcus Photography
Techno and Hardcore pioneer Lenny Dee started Industrial Strength Records in 1991 and put New York and American Hardcore on the map, Now on the heels of the labels 25th anniversary, ISR is touring the world with a crew of hardcore artists from all over. The tour hits the US this week with stops at Union in LA Friday, November 18 and The Paper Box in Brooklyn Saturday, November 19. We got a chance to talk to a few of the artists on the lineup, including label founder Lenny Dee about the event and the history of Industrial Strength.
THD: What inspired you to start Industrial Strength records?
I was already producing a lot of music and it became a natural progression. I wanted to inspire more artists to create Hard Electronic Music and I felt this music needed a place to grow and be heard. On my travels DJing, I also went on the hunt to seek out the most hardest electronic music I could muster up. Looking back – I did.
THD: What initially attracted you to hardcore and the harder styles of dance music? What is your favorite part of hardcore music and/or the hardcore scene?
It came from within me really. There was no hard electronic music before (maybe some gothic Ebm tracks, – if you could even find them). I made sets picking odd tracks, b-sides anything and everything and played them all back to back in my sets. I’d been doing sets all around the globe since the 80s man, so all the music i produced and mixed to this point lead me down a path as i grew as a DJ and a producer and then A&R.
What I was feeling the people were feeling. It was like magic. I grew as the feeling grew. This shit was new..
I wanted to explore electronic music to the max and have made and had hits in most major styles. Creativity lead to genres of music being realized. We made the music, and then it was called something, Techno for example….we did not go in the studio to make a ‘certain style’ — it just was. I wound up and the end of the road and stayed when I hit hardcore, but I still always look at the future.
THD: What was the hardcore and harder styles scene in America like before you started ISR? How has it changed in the last 25 years?
There was nothing here in the start of the 90’s. Frankie Bones was doing some parties at that time and we had also created club nights prior to ISR. We were pushing electronic music sounds to NYC which at that time no one cared about it.
The music was not Hard Electronic though. It become the essence of what was to come for me later on, but as I think back, it was hard for the time. Bones and I really broke down doors for NYC and this Country as a whole. No one here really realizes how much Europe actually looked to us as the leaders in electronic music. We have a earned a large place in electronic music history (they might even recognize that one day ) But here we are 25 years – still kicking ass !
THD: What is your favorite subculture or sub-genre of hardcore/hardstyle that has emerged since you started playing and producing hardcore?
I love all styles of music in fact & listen to a vast range of things. What I play is my choice. I love to be excited by the music and play it like no other. I so like crossbreed. I think its hard edge drum n bass flavor with tight Hard electronic elements really is great new addition to Hard electronic music. It furthers the expansion of both styles while forging ahead with new music ideas pushing the growth of something new, which is a good thing no matter how you look at it.
Some styles of music are more like a description not a really a style (like ‘Techno’ is a style) and are set up with simple arrangements so an amateur can play it well. I like a challenge when I play. But I try not to diss any styles, it’s whatever people dig.
THD: What is your favorite memory from your years with ISR?
I had Laurent Garnier over to my place in Brooklyn. Laurent and I go way back, so we tried to make a track in the short time we had to work. Believe it or not we made a track on my Ruff Beats label ! It was fun and unexpected, we made a simple track, but the experience was over the top to have Laurent over in in Bensonhurst Brooklyn the home of Saturday Night Fever. We rented a house off 86th St. next to Lenny’s Pizza – that where Travolta ate the two slices of pizza doubled up in the start of the film.
THD: What are you most excited about for the Hard Electronic 25th anniversary shows?
I am super chuffed to celebrate that we have been here this long ! Not many can say this in the USA, especially being we created a style of music. I think we are one of (if not the) longest running Electronic labels in the USA now.
I am excited to do this party in NYC and LA. Trauma Live have been great to deal with on the West Coast and we could not have done it without them & Rave Till Dawn. And of course our crew in Brooklyn – Distort the 909 & Kontaminated Recordings – have rocked this (w/ support from Audio Havok from the east coast too). And needless to say, I couldn’t do any of it without my partner Jules who makes it all happen, incl running the ISR and our Labels etc etc.
We’ve also made ISR25 parties in Vienna (Mechanizm), Tokyo (SuperBad Midi Breaks), Glasgow (Sector Events), Fukishima (DarkRave), showcase at ‘Radikal Styles Festival in Colombia, and have a leg in Paris with Audiogenic this Dec. These collabs are exciting and the responses have been off the chain.
‘Hard Electronic’ is a night we will do more of showcasing new & established artists, from all styles of hard electronic music. One party with all different sounds to excite the brain and body in one room. We are already talking line ups for the next one (and tour coming soon too). Get ready boys n girls – the Brooklyn Monster has woken up !
Lenny will be djing both American dates alongside heavy hitters like Unexist, Art Of Fighters, The Sickest Squad, Tymon, Rob Gee and many more. In his spare time he also has been mixing an album for up and coming artist Pop Criminal.
ISR just released ISR 100 on vinyl as well as collaborations with Akira, Mr Madness, Jason Little, Nuke, DJ Terror and many more for the 25 Years of Industrial Strength compilation coming out this December.
Producers keep an eye out for a new studio pack to help new and seasoned producers make original hard kick drums, featuring over 300+ bass drums and 30+ ISR artist kits.
The story first started in 2000’s Italy, when three guys met: Jacopo Stevanato, Samuele Gozzo and Sirio Carino. It was an instant musical “love at first sight”, so they decided to team up and create the “Sick DJ Team”. Under that alias, they dropped their first hardcore tracks on G-Net Records. A couple years after, having musically matured, they decided to change their name to “The Sickest Squad”, keeping the adjective “sick”, it being their musical brand. Being big fans of Frenchcore, they started working with DJ Randy, the owner of R909. This helped them define their sound and come up with their own musical style called “Sickcore”, which is the hybrid child of hardcore and Frenchcore.
Influenced by various musical genres that range from dubstep to punk or even metal, The Sickest Squad’s music is energetic, dark and fast, and they are considered one of the most influent and unique Frenchcore groups out there.
Today, we will introduce you to 5 of The Sickest Squad’s most popular tracks. Be ready to listen to some SICK beats!
Ass, Bass N Bitches:
After listening to this, you will definitely be in the party mood! You can already imagine the neon lights, the shots and the head-banging party animals.
Minimal is Criminal:
We can all definitely imagine the beginning of this track being the background music of a hardcore fight scene in a blockbuster, or maybe being played while a group of hackers are taking down some shady government organization.
Swingbeat #TiH :
This track gives off some nice Electro Swing vibes at the beginning, and then turns into a pure Frenchcore track. A rollercoaster of genres that keeps you on your toes!
Opera Prima:
This 6 minutes track is worth the detour! It gives off spy movie/psychological thriller vibes. Mysterious and dark music, a husky feminine voice and a beat we can only call SICK are definitely a winning combination, and the proof is right here!
Boom Shakalaka:
Starting soft and ending strong, this track builds up its beats until they explode in what we can only call a purely ecstatic combination of sounds. Listening to this will make you ditch your table at a club and go hit the dance floor, drink in hand.
Now that the techno music scene has become a full part of what we can call “mainstream” music, The Sickest Squad is getting more popular by the day, and their music is gaining a huge fan base that is expanding every single day. Even after their third member, Sirio, left the group in 2006, they kept making quality music that pleased Frenchcore and Sickcore fans.
After performing in several events, such as their famous “The Sickest Squad Concert”, The Sickest Squad managed to establish themselves as one of the best groups in their musical genre.
For more information about The Sickest Squad, check out their Facebook page:
