The Beginning of the Most Important Era of Gabber: Thunderdome I

THUNDERDOME I - F*CK MELLOW, THIS IS HARDCORE FROM HELL! 
SCORE: 89/100

Now that's a lot of Gabber! 

Two and a half hours of Gabber madness is what you can expect from the very first Thunderdome CD release, and this compilation will not disappoint any fans of the genre. 

Released in 1993, F*ck Mellow, This is Hardcore From Hell is a multi-artist compilation that would begin the massive reign on Gabber that the Thunderdome scene would have for years to come. This CD still has a massive impact on the genre even now, with artists like MCR-T and Joost taking influence from the Thunderdome collection and even sampling one of the tracks from this album. 

For electronic music, longform compilation albums are what work best in every way. The capacity of music that is held within them makes them perfect for clubs, raves, and DJ's alike - and the massive variety within the album still keeps a major sense of consistency despite the various different sources of music and artists.

Thunderdome I was released just one year after the first ever Thunderdome party; and it worked to solidify the festival and keep it going outside of the events. This allowed for people to get a feel for the music and what to expect at the festivals before they secured a ticket - which is something that would help to drive the culture up even further. 

This is the kind of music that will make you want to get up and move no matter where you are; and it's clear to see why the Thunderdome has become one of the most important and recognizable pieces of the hardcore music scene. Thunderdome I has everything that makes Gabber as incredible as it is; and the heavy, sample-filled project is sure to please fans of the genre. 

Not only is this the perfect project for Gabber fans, it is also something that could easily get someone interested in the genre for the first time. Mixed compilations like this one are the perfect way to introduce someone to an entire genre - and it doesn't get much more definitive than Thunderdome. 

The album is loud, hard, and nonstop - with a soundscape that makes you feel like you are at the Thunderdome festival in every moment. It's formatted in a way that keeps listeners hooked, making it an interesting and truly enjoyable project through and through. Over two hours of music may seem like a lot on your first glance, but electronic CDs need to have that bulk to them in order to really stick. This allows for the albums to feel like full-blown retellings of the raves that made the Thunderdome concept so important in the hardcore scene, and it makes the compilation feel like one massive party.

Despite over two hours of the same genre, Thunderdome I never once feels stale or repetitive. It isn't the same formula being used again and again; it's a unifying compilation of artists that all bring something new and unique to the table with each and every song on the project. Two discs of pure Gabber madness is a must for any fans of the genre - and Thunderdome is never a letdown. 

This is an album that is more than just your run of the mill compilation. It's one of the most culturally significant electronic music compilations of all time; and it's something that still impacts Gabber music to this day. Rarely will you find so much consistency in such a long project, but the Thunderdome festival culture has always known how to make the best of the genre.