Unpopular opinions

[ceero]

Don't want to start an argument here, just feel like getting this off my chest somewhere. Just my 2c

2021 has easily been the worst year for this genre in it's history, PERIOD. I feel I have maybe 10% of the enthusiasm for this genre i've had at the beginning of the last year. If there wasn't for DBSTF, MYST, Thera and Warface putting out great albums last year I might have had just loose my interest in this genre alltogether.

I feel somehow betrayed by the established hardstyle artists - well by those not releasing shit because of the pandemics and by those unable to finish albums/projects they have been cobstantly promising to deliver for fucking years. And at the same time the new names in this scene, especially the most praised ones just completely fail to impress me or catch my interest in any way. I dont think there has ever been this much of a creativity/quality crisis in hardstyle. Honestly for the most part I dont even feel like listening to new releases because in 90% of the cases its going to either suck, bore me to death or downright make me laugh (looking at you, xtraraw). If i just compare it with how creative and thriving for example the techno scene is right now it almost makes me cry.

For the first time since ive started to listed to this genre in 2005 I feel totally alienated from this music - while looking at the Q top 100, while looking at the Qlimax lineup etc.

[DjVero]

Don't want to start an argument here, just feel like getting this off my chest somewhere. Just my 2c

2021 has easily been the worst year for this genre in it's history, PERIOD. I feel I have maybe 10% of the enthusiasm for this genre i've had at the beginning of the last year. If there wasn't for DBSTF, MYST, Thera and Warface putting out great albums last year I might have had just loose my interest in this genre alltogether.

I feel somehow betrayed by the established hardstyle artists - well by those not releasing shit because of the pandemics and by those unable to finish albums/projects they have been cobstantly promising to deliver for fucking years. And at the same time the new names in this scene, especially the most praised ones just completely fail to impress me or catch my interest in any way. I dont think there has ever been this much of a creativity/quality crisis in hardstyle. Honestly for the most part I dont even feel like listening to new releases because in 90% of the cases its going to either suck, bore me to death or downright make me laugh (looking at you, xtraraw). If i just compare it with how creative and thriving for example the techno scene is right now it almost makes me cry.

For the first time since ive started to listed to this genre in 2005 I feel totally alienated from this music - while looking at the Q top 100, while looking at the Qlimax lineup etc.

I took a break from hardstyle of about six months last year, for the first time since 2003 or something. NOTHING at all, including this place, 'coz you will listen some otherwise! I felt the same at the beginning of 2021, not as extreme as you, but still. Listen to other genres, techno in your case. Trust me, it really helps. It will spark your enthusiasm for this wonderful genre again. Or do one or two months only, just to try it. And maybe, just maybe, producers will reinvent themselves once events will come back, this time for good. I'm very positive for this year, dunno why.

[Emre]

Yeah i'd say just take a break or just listen to the very few artists that do sparkle your interests and ignore the rest.

[DjThera]

Why I did 1 remix competition in 2020? Because I wanted to inspire everyone to get creative with my tracks and give it their own take. Covid lockdowns everywhere and because of a remix competition like this, I hope I helped people doing something creative and have fun with it. I did however had to select a few remixes to release officially, but I didnt run a popularity vote on it

[Bomberz]

For the first time since ive started to listed to this genre in 2005 I feel totally alienated from this music - while looking at the Q top 100, while looking at the Qlimax lineup etc.

I agree so much with this part...

[niconietom]

For the first time since ive started to listed to this genre in 2005 I feel totally alienated from this music - while looking at the Q top 100, while looking at the Qlimax lineup etc.

I agree so much with this part...

This indeed. Jeezus 2020 was completely awful, this year was a little better but still sucked. This genre is weaker than ever and it hurts so bad

[Gommes_]

Yes, the scene is not in a great state. 2021 was kinda bad indeed. Not as bad as the "golden era" (yes I said it) but still really weak. I agree with the majority being totally uncreative and since everyone jumped on the raw train it even got worse.

I am so sick of these tock kicks. Where are the crunchy or bouncy ones? Kicks that make a track stand out. Almost every intro today sounds the same and even guys like DBSTF adapted to that crap. Combining this awful trend with putting a climax in the last 15 seconds of a track is just sad.

[ThePrincipal]

bit extreme to say worst year of the genre but it was not a strong one, that's for sure. The scene is not in a great state because the crowds at events are not able to say yay or nay to tunes they here. Honestly, it will get worse with minimal events in 2022 also.

And frankly, where is the next big talent or sound coming from? I can't see anything on the horizon except for some of the young Aussie guys in my biased local home town view !

[Emre]

bit extreme to say worst year of the genre but it was not a strong one, that's for sure. The scene is not in a great state because the crowds at events are not able to say yay or nay to tunes they here. Honestly, it will get worse with minimal events in 2022 also.

And frankly, where is the next big talent or sound coming from? I can't see anything on the horizon except for some of the young Aussie guys in my biased local home town view !

Yes your Aussie boys like Anderex, Synthsoldier, Firelite etc are good but saying there's nothing talented and unique on the horizon is a load of biased Ozzie pride BS sorry:

Maybe not all 'new' and some are far past the 'talent stadium' but all have their own sound and high quality:

Vertile, Voidax, Cryex, Clockartz, Zyon, Rebelion (Overdose), Mutilator, DW (Innergame), Jay Reeve, D-Charged, the whole Spoontech crew, Horyzon, Imperatorz etc just to name a few. Not 13/12, distinguishable sounds, good quality.

If you don't think those names bring good fresh stuff to the table it might have more to do with your taste/standards changing than with the scene degrading, because there's a lot of names doing their own thing in a good way in this time tbh.

[ThePrincipal]

bit extreme to say worst year of the genre but it was not a strong one, that's for sure. The scene is not in a great state because the crowds at events are not able to say yay or nay to tunes they here. Honestly, it will get worse with minimal events in 2022 also.

And frankly, where is the next big talent or sound coming from? I can't see anything on the horizon except for some of the young Aussie guys in my biased local home town view !

Yes your Aussie boys like Anderex, Synthsoldier, Firelite etc are good but saying there's nothing talented and unique on the horizon is a load of biased Ozzie pride BS sorry:

Maybe not all 'new' and some are far past the 'talent stadium' but all have their own sound and high quality:

Vertile, Voidax, Cryex, Clockartz, Zyon, Rebelion (Overdose), Mutilator, DW (Innergame), Jay Reeve, D-Charged, the whole Spoontech crew, Horyzon, Imperatorz etc just to name a few. Not 13/12, distinguishable sounds, good quality.

If you don't think those names bring good fresh stuff to the table it might have more to do with your taste/standards changing than with the scene degrading, because there's a lot of names doing their own thing in a good way in this time tbh.

A lot of the names you've said are not new really. Some of them are distinguishable you said, some not. All good quality.

My tastes are fine, I lack for nothing at present