Finally, 2 years later from the first album “Skydivin’”, Darren Styles is back and this time he means business.

2 CDs are jam packed showcasing brand spanking new hardcore as well as a few old loved classics, as well as one acoustic track written and sung by Darren showcasing his vocal talents in their natural form.

This review will be quite long, going through each 26 tracks individually and then an overview at the end. Enjoy!

1. Sound Without A Name – This is an old tune that has been completely refreshed for the album and it is a much welcome refresh! Much clearer sound and tighter production giving it the perfect sound for his current stuff, as well as rearranged and new riffs to bring a different edge to the old version that we love. Very bouncy and a great catchy song. If you are new to this type of sound or new to Darren, this song will be in your mind! [5/5 – can’t fault this at all! especially for a refresh]

2. Holding On – Current single from the album. I find the lyrics a bit odd in this to start with, but if you listen and understand them they make much sense. Perhaps it’s just the way it’s sung.
Chorus is awesome and again one of them catchy choruses. Then drops into a very nice bouncy riff and a nice movement in the bassline to give it that edge. Video to this is also pretty cool, though as per usual they’ve gone with the fast car for the riff part at the start. Duh! [4/5 because it’s an awesome catchy tune, but verse vocal just doesn’t seem entirely right for it]
^{Random Fact: Darrens’ fiancé(?), Fiona plays a part in this video. She is the brunette at the end and, controversially, in the pictures with the blonde girl!}

3. Take You Down – A different sound here which I didn’t expect. Quite a catchy vocal which then goes into a sort of breakbeat house kind of thing. This could be very well in the commercial clubs and radio. Definitely a tune that could be a potential next single. But can be a bit marmite for people. Vocal takes a bit of understanding, thankfully there are lyrics with the booklet so you can try even better at understanding what the heck is being said. [3/5 because where as I think it’s a nice tune, its kind of marmite-y and doesn’t go far. Plus vocals are damn annoying to understand]

4. Outta My Head – Here is another track that has been loved by many for a while now. Lyrics are awesome and piano works very nicely with the rest of the sounds. A very simple riffs that works great with the bass, but bloody works great. A very pumping track and catchy vocal which will certainly get you going out of your head on the dancefloor. Hopefully you’ll feel the same way! Even has a kind of jumpstyle feel to it in a few parts. A tune that will put your mind on your face! [4/5 – Always loved this song. But can’t give it a 10 until I hear what it’s like without auto-tuned vocals. Unsure whether the auto-tune should be in this or not]

5. Feel The Pressure – The title track of the album. Starts off very sweet with a nice little piano. Riff starts to come in along with a snare roll then pounds right in. Riff is fast and choppy and its quite a nice synth used . Can’t help but think it could be a little phatter/brighter though. Very nice tune that gets you bouncing during the riff, then keeps you wanting more during the breakdowns. [3/5 because as  much as I do like the tune, Could be room for improvements with the riff maybe.]

6. Days Like These (feat. Lisa Abbott) – A very trancy hardcore track this. Featuring the lovely charming vocal talents of Lisa Abbott, which never fails to perk your ears up! Voice sounds awesome and even though the riff is simple, it brings so much to the track to give it that bouncy edge, as well as a piano in the background too.
Drops down into a nice more hardcore dirtier part back into the second verse with the kick and bass still there, with the bass doing a sort of jump on the 3rd of each bar. Works great to keep a nice bounce to the track and works very nicely with the vocals. [5/5 – love this tune a lot! Can’t fault anything. Will get you moving. Play loud!]

7. Raining Down – Starts off very pop-electro style with Darren singing in his natural voice (the voice I prefer). Very very nice lyrics, One of them lyrics that i’m sure everyone can relate to, I know I can! Starts to build to the chorus which has a sort of  “Westlife moment”. Y’know – Off the stool onto the feet singing. What is even more great is there is a part that every raver and clubber, depending on where this is played, that everyone can join in to. And that is a simple “ooh Woooaaaa ooaa oaa oooohh”. One of them tracks that will do great commercially and in the hardcore scene. Can not fault this at all. I love this! Potential to be a single! [5/5 – Pure love for this. Can not fault at all.]

8. Like A Bitch – This track showing another edge of hardcore which has started to become a lot more popular,which is strange lyrics that has one catchy line that has a simple driving kick/bass part. “I’ll smack you like a bitch” (Or for some, “I’ll smack you like a fish”) can be heard by people randomly singing it and people around you will recognize the song. Builds up and up, hands up. Drops into just the vocal of “I’ll smack you like a bitch” then straight into a kick/bass driven frenzy! Currently working great in the raves to have a real stomp on to. This has the potential of also being a track that clubbers from other genres will love. Can’t really think of anything wrong with this track at all. But feel I can only give it [4/5]

9. Pandora – Another vocal track that is really nice to listen to and enjoy. Very hands up kind of thing that will get you stomping to. I’m lost for words on how else I can talk about this track. A track for the hardcore fans definitely, Not sure about for everyone, though. Time will tell! [3/5]

10. Universe – Starts off very atmospheric and very hands up and relax moment leaving you to think what will come. The vocal of “more and more energy” suddenly brings exactly that. Acid movements building on, kicks in with a nice driving bassline and acid riff that just sounds great. A trancy hardcore track! One that I know ravers will like. It drops still in to the acid line but relaxed so you can catch a breath or chill but quickly builds up into a breakbeat part. Every part in this track works very well together and that acid and the kind of wobble guitar sounding riff works brilliantly. Trancy, bouncy and happy! [4/5]

11. Open Your Eyes (feat. Mia J) – Cheesy hardcore track this. Nice piano and very auto-tuned vocal. However when the chorus kicks in with the 8-bit sounding riff it works very well. builds up nicely into a bouncy kick/bass with a plucky riff going on. definitely one to get you moving. Can’t help but think the vocal cuts are a bit too over-worked. Especially as the whole thing is auto-tuned. The lyrics will sure be ones that you will remember, just can’t help but feel the auto-tune is too much. [3/5 – Happy, bouncy an catchy, but the vocals could be so much better for me]

12. Take Me Away – Starts off with a breakbeat with the vocal and sounds quite oldschool-y. Vocals are powerful and work nicely for the build and breakbeat, but I can’t help but feel it’s got something missing or too much of something. Drops into a kick/bass driven apart and that sounds great. One that will get you bouncing when it kicks in but personally for me, the breakbeat lets it down. [2/5 ]

13. Light Up The Sky (Acoustic Mix) – The only acoustic track on this album and perhaps the best acousticness i’ve heard from a hardcore producer. Lyrics are very sweet and if you relate to it, could even bring a tear to your eye! Hit the repeat button, sit back and sing along! I can see this being a single and just doing so well commercially. Will there be a hardcore version? Perhaps? It could work, but I think the way the acoustic track is, nothing will par it. Darren’s voice really shines in this. If you’re a fan of acoustic music, you will LOVE this. Well done, Darren! [5/5 – Single please!]

14. Breathe Again – A very nice orchestral sounding track this! At least at the start. Very good vocals which is very driving and builds nicely. This is yet another one of them catchy numbers with the chorus being easy to learn and easy to love. Riff comes in and works great with the vocal. Though not sure about the robotness! What the heck? One of them tracks I think everyone will love. Auto-tuned vocals but because they’re fast during the verse and long during the chorus, it seems to work great. A very happy track and one many will love I’m sure! [4/5]

15. Rock Me Out – Another bouncy track with very poppy vocal to it. No messing around, this kicks off and will keep you wanting more and more. The 2nd break is very hands up and builds up back into the riff for more full on stomping. Nice track works great just not sure if I personally like it enough. Maybe after hearing it in a club I will. [3/5]

16. Bassline Road – Starts off very hands uppy and chilled out, into a nice gritty bass riff to drive you a bit insane. Kick drops in to force the bass to pump (non-technical term) Very driving and will keep you moving and keep you wanting more. It’s all in the name really! [3/5 As it can get a bit boring 2nd time round]

17. Pacific Sun – Now this is an old classic! This has been redone many times and I think only Ultrabeat managed to make it good. Until now. Darren’s voice works so much better for this track. Has a very oldschool feel to it but works greatly this time. Very bouncy and will get the smile on your face shining! Very cheesy, too. Has a new verse, or at least a verse I don’t remember hearing before which definitely brings a nice welcome refresh to the track.  Can’t fault this at all, If you’re sick of hearing the song, listen to this and it may make you rethink! Probably my favourite version of this! [5/5]

18. Shining Star (Feat. Molly) – Another bouncy vocal number this, struggling to decide what I can use to describe this apart from “Potential next rave anthem”. Vocal is very nice and it’s a proper hands up chorus. Riff comes in all on its own to drive you getting ready for it all to kick off. Can see this getting everyone raving happily and enjoying it. Kind of reminds me of a Dougal & Gammer vocal track which everyone loved, though the name of it has rolled off my fingers… [4/5]

19. Now or Never – Running out of things to say now! Another anthem which I only ever heard once when Darren played this on Kutski’s Radio 1 show at BCM (i think) and fell right in love with it. Has a pop-rock edge to it to start with and the vocal is really nice. Goes into a triplet bouncy riff and again is a track that will not fail to make everyone smile. I loves it. [4/5]

20. Symphonic (feat. Kirsty Anderson) – This track kind of makes me think of Scooter. Has a techno feel to it to start with and very driving. builds up very nicely into the breakdown and becomes this sort of symphony opera part. Very hands up and keeps the techno feel in the background with the riff going on and building up. All kicks off with the bassline tripping over on the 3rd of each bar again (but more subtle this time). Opera vocal kicks back in and still continues to drive. It’s done very well and surprising how each part works. I keep waiting for H.P. Baxxter to jump in any moment for one of his strange twisty lyrics… Very well done! [4/5]

21. Amigos – This has been doing its rounds in the hardcore scene for a while and is perhaps the next classic. Very catchy hands up vocal and very bouncy throughout. Not much to say apart from this is an awesome track, loved by many and soon loved by more! [5/5]

22. Sorry – As soon as I first heard this I fell in love with it. Lyrics are very catchy and relate-able. Bouncy jump sounding kick and the riff is the kind of riff that people will actually “do” to. “do do dodo do, do do dodo do do”! can’t fault this track at all. Very cheesy but very good! [5/5]

23. Silver Water – I remember this. It’s actually a remix Darren did. I remember playing this out and singing along with it as well as raving on the floor to this. This is a very loved classic. Awesome piano riff and awesome lyrics. Darren Styles remix is probably the best version of it. Riff is very catchy and the whole thing is driving perfectly. Nothing but pure happiness when you hear this, especially in a club! [5/5]

24. Higher Ground – Starts off as another acoustical track. Both an acoustic and electric guitar in this. Lyrics are very sweet and aren’t auto-tuned which is brilliant. Another track that people could relate to. Very easy to learn and love the lyrics. Into the hardcore part and this is where I become unsure. I like it, I just don’t like the riff. think the riff could be much better and work better for the track. Perhaps this is a track that should of stayed acoustic. Even though the 2nd verse has the kick and bass with the guitars in there and works perfectly.
A great track just really unsure on the riff. Maybe it’ll grow on me, though. [3/5]

25. Air – A very trance-y breakbeat track this. Works very nicely and sounds brilliant. Sounds all work very nicely together and is peaceful yet something you can move to. A great way to close the album. Different but works. Nothing else I can say except that. [4/5]

Overall, A very good album and worth the wait. Album is great to listen to on a sunny and rainy day and will be very slow to get bored of. Very much looking forward to the third! (there has to be one, surely?).
A few tracks are potential for singles. I wish there were more acoustic stuff too as I think Darren has a great voice for it. But as the album is now, I love it and many will to.
If you’ve never heard this kind of stuff before or been unsure, this will not let you down! I think this album will do very good commercially and gain a lot of new fans!

Overall, 5/5! Straight on my iPhone and Light Up The Sky currently on repeat!

What do you think? Do you agree/disagree on anything i’ve said? Drop a comment!