Masif Hard Trance Anthems Volume 1 is the first label compilation album from the prestigious hard trance label, Masif. It’s a hard trance label run by Sydney-based DJ and producer Steve Hill. As ex label manager of Tripoli Trax, Steve holds the reins over four successful labels, S-Trax Recordings, VW Recordings, Y2K and Masif. Steve is joined on the album by Goodgreef resident and all round hard dance weapon, Alex Kidd.

Taking the reins on the first disc, Steve opens disastrously with a cheesy Nick Skitz-esq reworking of Love Sensation by Kurd Maverick. Following this is the equally unimpressive Need to Feel Loved and CTRL+WALT+DELETE. Why oh why either of these first three tracks are on a hard trance compilation is just beyond me. Revered and renowned as a hard trance producer worldwide, too often I come away from the dance floor of a Steve Hill set thinking, ‘why can’t he leave the cheese to Nick Skitz?’ Unfortunately there are a few moments on this disc that bring those sentiments flooding back, which is disappointing given his ability as a producer. Speaking of… the first disc is jammed packed with no less than 10 of Steve’s singles and remixes. Early on the pick of the bunch is his collaboration with hard trance production freak Technikal, with the smashing World Series Mix of Impulz. Hill and Dark by Design not only remix Heat by Luca Antolini, but also give a fresh new sound to a few old hard trance classics, What the F*ck and Cocaine. There are a few hiccups, so to speak, through the album. The Energy, Serotonin Rush, To The Beat, Cold As Ice and Love You More all just seem a little bit too cheesy for me. The penultimate track, Lost in Love, is a classic reworking and leads effortlessly into the final track on the first disc, Feel The Love. This is a 4-way collaboration between Steve Hill, Andy Whitby, Mallorca Lee and Technikal. Overall the first disc is just too hit and miss for me, there’s some great moments with Impulz and Welcome to my World, but overall there’s just too many flat spots.

Moving along, and it’s Alex Kidd’s turn in the spotlight, and he doesn’t disappoint. Starting with a heavy hard tech trance sound, his mix slams into overdrive through Cosmic Gate’s Should’ve Known, but really peaks for Music Machine by Phillipe Rochard. I would love to hear this played out at a big event. Dark, dirty and raw, just the way I love my hard trance, it’s a slamming selection and the highlight of the album… thus far! Music Machine is brilliantly followed by Guyvers’ Palpitations, which upon hearing it, your heart might just have! Only half way in, and this mix is already flying in 6th gear. In unison with Dark by Design, Alex (Kidd) gives Steve Maurano’s Insane a fresh new sound, and with devastating effect. The next installment, however, is curious at best. Sampling the Pink Panther tune, you have to wonder how it found it’s way into this mix. A*S*Y*S* gets things back on track with the Kamui Mix of Cheers, but it’s the following track that really hits all the right buttons for me. Scot Project remix of Human Design by Shy Bros is one of my true, true, favourite hard trance anthems, an absolute weapon! Moving along and Dark by Design gives Marco V’s immortal Loops n Tingz a harder (and faster) new sound. Segmented beautifully, it’s one of the better pieces in this impressive mix. Alex gives his track The City some airtime as the album starts to draw to a close, and joins up with British hard trancers the Organ Donors for Muzik; a seriously good adaptation of the Madonna hit single. No hard dance compilation could be complete without a BK production, so finishing things off in style is the Organ Donors mix of It’s Just a Feeling.

Overall this compilation can be described as solid without being spectacular. There are some fine moments throughout and the mixing and editing sounds spot on. However, there are too many flat spots for me to start hailing this as one of the best hard dance compilations of the year. That’s not to say that this isn’t a worthy investment, it’s just I’m not going to hang my hat on it.