It’s easy to forget how effective hard techno can be when you strip away the overproduced drops. 909 RIOT and Carl Shorts offer a potent reminder on their first joint release, the ‘Mad WOW E.P.’, out now on Resilient Recordings. This isn’t about big-room drama; it’s about relentless, marching percussion and grooves that work a floor without gimmicks.
The title track wastes no time with build-ups, locking into a stripped, peak-hour rhythm that feels both punishing and hypnotic. Flip it over and ‘Suit Yourself’ deepens the darkness with a writhing acid line that coils around a heavy kick drum—the sort of tool track that keeps dancers pinned at 4 a.m. Across both sides, the production is lean, the attitude is direct, and the result is modern hard techno with an old-school spine. For DJs looking to inject serious momentum into a set, these are two cuts that do exactly what they say on the tin.
The Mad WOW E.P. is available now on Resilient Recordings via Beatport.
