October: 7 hard dance releases you need to listen to this month

Klubfiller 'Smile' (Klubbed Up)

Back before he became a leading name in hardcore and dominated hard dance, Klubfiller rose to fame through his bounce productions. Now, many years later, he releases ‘Smile’: a 150bpm off-beat bouncer which has everything you need to lighten up your dark days. It boasts a gorgeous piano-led breakdown that’s coated in sugary vocal goodness and sprinkled with sirens, as well as the production clarity and power expected from one of the best. Good news, everyone: your summer anthem just landed.

9/10

Lady Faith 'Emanate' (Scantraxx Global)

A brand new sub-label for one of hardstyle’s biggest label players, Scantraxx Global aims to focus on a more diverse international sound. Up first steps Lady Faith from America. With her cut ‘Emanate’ she pulls out the huge pitched-kicks, a hands-up riff and some decent production. Overall, though, it doesn’t do too much, making it a set-filler but not a set-winner.

7/10

Fabio Seramota 'Better Times' (Premonition Digital)

A man who has been working hard in the scene for quite some time now and slowly getting the recognition he deserves, Portugal-born Fabio brings up ‘Better Time’, which ‘borrows’ its vocal from elsewhere and slots it into a brilliant peak-time hard house track for tougher floors. The breakdown is gorgeous and the drop is a furious fusion of chopped-up hoover goodness. It’s a perfect blend of euphoric and steel.

8/10

Cupra 'Take Control' Slingshot

Powerful, driving and exciting – this sort of hard house is exactly what the scene needs. With its big rolling bassline, hooky vocal and brilliant d’n’b inspired breakdown, it will keep the dancefloor active and interested throughout. The kick-back maintains the energy levels to maximum while the outro acid line is the perfect finish.

8/10

T-Factor & PhD 'We Are One' (Premonition Digital)

Like Max Mozart’s ‘Murder On The Moon’ a few months ago, ‘We Are One’ feels suspiciously like a track which has borrowed its ideas from Guyver’s classic ‘Man On The Moon’. Featuring a spoken vocal by President Obama discussing space travel, a big hard trance riff filters up and builds throughout the break. T-Factor & PhD have wheeled out a big rolling bassline and tight production, but some sub-melodies and a few production tricks could have spiced it up a bit more.

7/10

Mizel & Wilson 'Outta My Head' (Together We Rise)

It’s always exciting to see new hardcore artists popping up on one of the biggest labels in the game, and Mizel & Wilson land with a massive four-track EP. ‘Outta My Head’ is the strongest of the bunch, with a big vocal and piano through the break, coupled with a great old-skool jungle drum line over the top.

8/10

Ben Stevens & UK Gold 'On The Spot' (Fireball)

A clash of the ages, here, with current hard house star Ben Stevens teaming up with the esteemed Paul Janes. But unfortunately, ‘On The Spot’ leaves you wanting more. The core idea of the track seems slightly basic, built around a hard house-by-numbers offbeat bassline, breakdown and drop. The gated vocal trickery helps the energy, but we expected more from two of the best in the history of the game.

6/10