Dancefloor Madness: DJ Paul Elstak's 1995 Hardcore Opus, 'May the Forze Be With You'

DJ PAUL ELSTAK: MAY THE FORZE BE WITH YOU
(HARDCORE EDITION)

SCORE: 98/100

DJ Paul Elstak's debut 1995 LP on Rotterdam records is over 40-minutes of nonstop Dutch hardcore; and it's plain to see why this album is one of the best in the entire hardcore subculture.

Everything that made the 90's so great in terms of harsh electronic music can be found within this record. It isn't the Terrorcore laced Gabber that many may know - it's something much more upbeat and carefree while still having the same hard, distorted kicks that the Gabber genre is known for. This leads to an album that is more on the side of Happy Hardcore, and it blends two of the best electronic subgenres into one masterclass album that truly showcases why Paul Elstak is one of the most important old-school producers out there.

Every transition within the album makes tracks feel like intense beat drops at a club - and it's impossible to ignore the fact that this is one of the most immersive hardcore albums on the market. It has everything that a hardcore record needs to have and more, and this is a Gabber record for people who find the heavier side of the spectrum to be "too much". 

If you're a fan of nonstop bouncy club beats in an old-school rave format, look no further than May the Forze Be With You. This is an album that knows how to have fun without ever losing its spark - and the result is sure to leave any fans of its respective genres nodding their heads in agreement along to the beats of each track.

The mix of American pop culture with both Dutch Happy Hardcore and Gabber is a sonic state of bliss to behold, and the entirety of May the Forze Be With You is crisp, sharp, and ahead of its time. Rarely will you find a hardcore album that makes you truly feel like you're right there in the scene at an underground rave full of classics; but this album is the classic, and wherever you choose to listen to becomes the rave.

This album is one of the most crucial old-school hardcore records you can get your hands on - and it manages to feel entirely timeless even by today's standards. It's fun, full of tongue-and-cheek samples, and absolutely infectious in every way.