Dutch imprint Hyper Reality has been relentlessly peddling underground Hard Trance gems since 2015, with Nostic aka Barry Rohner firmly at the helm. Not a DJ himself (and with no aspiration to be so), this is a label solely centred around a quest for outputting the darker side of Trance music, and creating a platform for raw talent to have its own loud voice. Now up to release 65, Nostic unveils the product of hours in the studio, in the form of an artist album entitled ‘The Chronicles of Time’. From the very intro, this has Hyper Reality firmly stamped upon, and after the enjoyable slew of 11 acid charged, dissonant and brooding tracks, you really get a feel for the Nostic vibe, but also with influences reaching far and wide across the years and spectrum of Trance. Aura, relentless in approach stands out as a firm favourite, as does ‘Popol Vuh’ with his sinister leads, distorted bass and mental crunchy acid patterns. On the whole, atmospheric, acidic and appealing.
4/5
Reviewed by Nick Coles
Nostic – The Chronicles of Time (Hyper Reality Records)
