Hardwell’s back and this time he’s not playing it safe. This latest effort, ‘Rave Till My Grave’, pits the Revealed Recordings head honcho with longtime collaborator Maddix and hardstyle legend MC Villain for a rave anthem that will be etched into your memory forever.
And if the name itself didn’t give away how good it is going to be, the actual track absolutely will. It’s big, it’s euphoric, it’s dark, and it’s chock-full of raw unbridled rave energy.
Hardwell’s rise through dance music has been nothing if not legendary. From face-melting mainstage sets at Tomorrowland and Ultra to exploring the darker, more techno aspects of things, he’s refused to stand still. Records such as ACID, Follow The Light, and collaborations with the likes of Space 92, Bassjackers, Afrojack, and Sub Zero Project have demonstrated that he doesn’t fear to experiment. Now, with ‘Rave Till My Grave’, he returns with another experimental anthem that crosses mainstage mayhem and underground edge.
Maddix, himself remapping the genre in his own way, contributes his own distinctive hybrid style, a thrilling blend of techno, big room, and raw rave energy. He’s been in the midst of a hot streak with drops like Ecstasy, Open Sesame (Abracadabra), and 90s Bitch, catching the eye of techno titans such as Amelie Lens, HI-LO, and Reinier Zonneveld. His All Day Rave idea? An absolute vibe, meant to bring generations together through a sound that’s as immersive as it is hardcore. And in this new collaboration with Hardwell, you can sense every bit of that purpose.
But the icing on the cake is Villain. If you’ve raved at Defqon.1, Q-BASE, Reverze, or even Tomorrowland, you already know his voice. That unmistakable tone falls like a hammer in ‘Rave Till My Grave’, as he utters a hauntingly powerful line of spoken-word, “This perfect place… our rave till my grave”, that gives you the chills before the drop even arrives. It’s not a vocal, it’s a damn battle cry.
The chemistry between Hardwell and Maddix is volatile, and this is not their first rodeo. Previous anthems such as ACID, Take Me Away Again, and Revolution already hinted at their chemistry, but ‘Rave Till My Grave’ could very well be their hardest-hitting one yet. It’s a rave anthem with no holds barred that seems to be a mainstage behemoth and an underground revolution rolled into one.
The single drops today on Revealed Recordings, and it’s already illuminating dance floors around the world. And, by the way, Hardwell and Maddix each have packed tours of their own going on, making stops at big clubs and festivals from Ibiza to Creamfields to Tomorrowland Brasil. If you’re anywhere in their tour stops, this is your official invitation to go totally wild.
Hardwell’s tour dates are the Odyssey Club in Cyprus (Aug 1), Weekend Festival in Helsinki (Aug 2), Medusa Festival in Spain (Aug 8), Resistance Amnesia in Ibiza (Aug 20), and consecutive sets at Mysteryland and Creamfields (Aug 23). He’s also off to Thailand, Japan, and AMF in Amsterdam before the year is over.
Maddix is just as booked and busy. He’s playing WKND Festival in Finland, Veld in Toronto, Royale in Boston, ÎleSoniq in Montréal, and Sziget in Budapest, all in August. In September and October, he’s hopping around Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Luxembourg, and beyond. He’ll also play Tomorrowland Brasil, Creamfields Chile, and Dreamstate SoCal before closing out at Dreamfields Mexico and Scream Edmonton.
There is no question about it, ‘Rave Till My Grave’ is more than just a song. It’s a state of mind. A thumping, glistening, no-sleep, laser-lit ode to rave culture in all its untamed glory. And with Hardwell, Maddix, and Villain at the helm, the rave never ends, it just gets louder.
Mia Brooks dives deep into the beats and rhythms of the music industry, covering everything from chart-topping albums to underground artists. With a passion for discovering new talent and exploring the stories behind the songs, Mia keeps readers updated on all things music.
