Renegade Hardware

Legendary label, maybe the best ever for dark/techy dnb. Their nights were always some of the best around too - left a huge hole in the London dnb scene.

Huge respect to Clayton and his crew for bringing about the greatest drum'n'bass label, greatest music, greatest artists.

Renegade Hardware. The love started when I saw The Four Elements CD in HMV, late 2002. Everything, from obviously the artwork, to the artist and track names, resonated with me. And having received a first d&b mixtape a couple of weeks before (s/o DJ Zubes) featuring Human B Bop and All Aboard, I recognised the legendary name 'Dillinja' on the tracklist, which if anything increased the love. Love at first sight......and then first listen. My introduction to Friction too, I was mesmerised by this ride which hardly seemed to let up. Serious beats, bass and atmospherics, warehouse killers, raw reece, dutty drums and pounding subs, each track compiled to compliment the rest as sweetly as one could ask, blended soundly by virtue of its shared sonic DNA: Renegade Hardware. This was drum & bass.

Then early 2003 Knowledge Magazine began advertising the Skool of Hard Knocks album, mixed by )EI3(, on a full page spread. So I waited, and on its release date, after school, popped into HMV and picked it up. Got home, went straight to Dad's stereo and blasted it out from start to finish. I can never forget the goosebumps I felt hearing 'Unreal' for the first time. Madness.

15 years later, I own every Hardware album, reached the last four events, and the final album listening party 3 weeks ago. And the fire burns strong as ever. Despite Clayton finally retiring the 'Hardware' name component. Despite it's reincarnation of the last 3 years as a fairly generic modern neurofunk label. Despite me missing the previous 15 RH years of events at The End, Area and Cable. Despite the sacred name becoming synonymous only with 'dark drum & bass' dances in the minds and mouths of many a raver in the present day. In my eyes, and ears, Hardware has always, and will always be so much more than just a dark drum & bass event, so no 'R.I.P' from me

Rest In Peace!

*bows in front of the RHW logo*

This label is too phat to handle... Very dark atmosphere, earlier releases a bit trancy, latest releases are masterpieces banging in your head long after you have heard the track. A must have label for the dark, amen and tech freakzz around!!!

Arguably the biggest and best DnB label to date. Some classic releases have appeared on this label and also its sub labels, including Trouble On Vinyl, Renegade Recordings and the recently formed Barcode Recordings. For me, the best period for this label was around 1999-2001, Aftermath Essential Rewindz LP, Street Level EP and Armageddon LP being the most noteworthy. Newer releases worth checking are Paranoia EP, Water EP, Torture Chamber and Straight Up Menace. Heavy ;]

Renegade Hardware puts out some of the sickest, darkest, hardest, nastiest drum 'n bass around. No matter what the current trend in d&b may be, Hardware always delivers rinse-outs. Their sonic range may be a tad limited, but they do what they do better than almost anyone.