Masters Of Ceremony – Under Control

After a great start to the label, DJ Neophyte quite wisely brought back the Masters Of Ceremony alias, this time consisting of himself and Evil Activities who were in red hot form with their own releases. The first release by the trio was a solid start with A Way Of Life being the most popular tune off that record. However, I think Under Control is a definite improvement, the tune was popular with both DJs and party people.

Under Control is fairly simple in structure. The crushing Neophyte kickdrum which has been slightly modified for the Millennium. The secondary sound that bookends the track is an unusual echoing drunken riff that sounds really effective with a loud tail at the end of the pattern. Both Neophyte and Evil Activities are Heavy Metal fans, which would for the surprisingly good cover of Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine, a song I like myself. When I played Under Control at parties in the 2000's, people loved shouting the lyrics, ahhhh good times. Also the half speed kicks will test your speakers. This is backed up by "MOC bring the melody" and indeed they do, a well constructed synth melody that rides that line of uplifting and serious. Another great Millennium Hardcore tune keeping Neophyte Records up there with the best.

Skullfuck was also played out a fair bit, the Full Metal Jacket samples always work and the Darkcore main synth is good. Follow The Leader is a bit more strange and vague. The sample and song title comes from the English Muffin track, it takes about three quarters in before the spooky synth kicks in. It could be solid soundtrack music for a Horror movie.

In 2001, Hardcore was getting back on its feet, and tunes like Under Control really helped shape the music for the next decade.