(Masif/Stomp)

When famous club nights and club brands (Gatecrasher, Godskitchen, Slinky et al) bring out mix CDs, I always hope to listen to one or two which take me to that club and give me an aural taste of an experience at that particular event. Sometimes it works and on others the effort falls well short of the mark. There was no such apprehension, however, when I picked up Pharmacy’s third volume in their already successful CD series, which this time would be mixed by Pharmacy main man Hellraiser and Finnish international hard dance prodigy DJ Proteus. I just knew that with both mixes I would be transported to front row centre of Melbourne’s darkest hard dance production!

Hellraiser had the honours of mixing disc 1 of “Pharmacy vol. 3: Down with the Sickness”. I was eager to hear this CD as Hellraiser’s vol 2: “We are the Ruffest” mix was nothing short of brilliant. Hellraiser is of course one of Melbourne’s most iconic hard dance DJs as he combines a dark and eerie stage presence with a filthy acidic hardstyle sound. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine Hellraiser up there on stage behind the decks whilst shuffling away on the Pharmacy dance floor with the opening track “X Bass” by BK (Yoji Biomehanika & MC Magica’s Hardstyle remix.)

From the sinister synths and ballistic bassline of “X Bass” DJ Hellraiser invites his audience to go “Back in Time” (Dana – Original mix,) a track that has been tearing up venues all over Melbourne and the rest of the land with its twisted melody. Hellraiser gradually lowers the level whilst opting for tracks that are just that little bit different. Showtek’s “Choruz” is a no holds barred percussive tune which urged me to get off my seat on the train and start dancing near the door as I imagined having it large at Pharmacy!

The unrelenting assault on the ears that is disc 1 of “Pharmacy vol. 3: Down with the Sickness” keeps on increasing in intensity as Hellraiser drops the clinically insane “Unendichkeit” also by Dana. The momentum is shifted into a hard dance/hard techno direction with “Daisy Cutter” by Lab 4. Incidentally Lab 4 chose DJ Hellraiser to play at a Frantic event in London with Lab 4 hand picking each and every DJ based on their talent and on stage antics. Lab 4 would have to be completely mad to overlook the raw talent of Hellraiser, let alone his dark aura, and this proves that Melbourne is firmly positioned on the international hardstyle map.

It just wouldn’t be the Hellraiser way if he allowed his listener to take a breather! Hellraiser isn’t one to just opt for archetypal sounds and proof of this comes from the last tune on disc 1; “God Bless” by Combichrist. All throughout this monstrous mix Hellraiser has not only taken me on a journey into the deepest depths of clubland but he has once again pulled off a mix full of variation and twists to keep things interesting.

Disc 2 is mixed by none other than DJ Proteus. The thing about Pharmacy events is that they are never the same. Pharmacy have hosted DJs as diverse as Ben Sims, Scot Project, Derb and of course Proteus, who especially stands out in the pack with his intense take on the hardhouse/hard dance sound. Like Hellraiser, Proteus doesn’t just spin records; he takes DJing to the next level with a live stage appearance akin to black metal bands who reign supreme in other parts of Scandinavia. When Proteus is at the helm, mayhem is a dead certainty!

The mix goes straight into full flight as Proteus rips into “My Angel” by Kain Marco (Dark by Design’s “Hell’s Bell” remix.) This track has a distinctive resemblance to Lisa Pin-Up’s “Future Acid House” and is a great track to set the tone for the rest of the mix. From there the heat only gets higher as BPMs set the oven to near 160 degrees. As a live DJ, Proteus is totally uncompromising and unforgiving. For those who haven’t seen him, his disc 2 mix gives a great sneak peak of exactly what to expect of the Proteus experience.

People who once loved, or still love, heavy metal will headbang with delight to the guitars and sinister acid of “Heavy Fusion” by Carbon Based & Proteus. Proteus has done extremely well to combine the faster end of hard dance with the hydrochloric acid end of the pH scale making him one of the most unique talents on the circuit. The focus shifts to a more hardhouse emphasis again with “Make Me Real” by Nomic and Pain On Creation. Prepare to be taken to another realm by this tune’s moving break down and the intensely bittersweet climax that follows.

Proteus keeps the twists, turns and surprises coming ensuring that this high octane ride through the depths of “Hellfire” (DJ Rx.) isn’t just banging beats and little more all the way through. Tracks like “Hellfire” with its amen drum & bass breakdown are breathing plenty of fresh air into the hard dance sound. Pharmacy too is also doing its bit to breathe new light into hard dance and they along with Proteus have come up trumps with this mix CD. Proteus adds his own special touch to see off his disc 2 mix with a big bang in the form of “Venia.” This tune made me imagine holding my hands aloft in the air as Proteus concluded a main room set at Pharmacy.

Suffice to say “Pharmacy vol. 3: Down with the Sickness” has surpassed its objective of creating that feel of being there in a mix CD with dark shaded colours!