From: The Netherlands

DJ style: “Hardcore techno.”

Best known for: “‘Raise Your Fist’.”

Fave tune of 2022: “Broken Minds ‘The Creepy Terror Show’.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2022: “Unfused.”

The masked maker of hardcore made good on his promises of a busier 2022. Dutch DJ Danny Masseling, aka Angerfist, may not have had as prolific a year as in 2020, but he did more than his sleepier 2021. This year, besides being “a family man” and playing video games, he’s spun some hefty collaborations with acts including Ukrainian DJ Miss K8 (for ‘Act On Impulse’) and fellow Dutchman Nosferatu (‘Sinister Connection’). Masseling generally hasn’t veered too far from the melodic hardcore that he’s made his name with. However, he did say in an interview this year that he’s mindful of experimenting with slower kicks, shirking the recent hardcore trend of 180-190bpm and opting for tunes more in the region of 150.

Regardless, his music still sets your teeth on edge with discordant synth patterns and migraine-inducing beats. ‘Beyond Strength’, released in March, recalled his older work while this summer’s collaboration with Reinier Zonneveld, ‘Fist On Acid’, was a deep and dark match made in heaven between a techno and a hardcore great.
 

What’s the best DJ set you’ve seen this year?

“Boris Brejcha at Grand Palais in Paris for Cercle. I've listened to this set many times. It's quite soft music but I really like the vibe he creates.”

Name one great festival you played for the first time this year…

“Mission Festival in Switzerland.”

What’s the longest DJ set you’ve ever played?

“It was around four hours with Noize Suppressor in Bulgaria.”

What’s one piece of studio hardware you wish you owned?

“I might get that Mac Studio to replace my iMac sometime soon.”

What’s the last tune you bought?

“DJ Niel, ‘Under My Skin’. It's pretty ancient but I had to buy it again because I lost it somehow.”

What’s the next big sound?

“Techno.”