“I’ve been doing events like this for over eleven years, but the energy I feel today and here is truly unique. This night will be a very special one!” – Benny “Madness” Reichert (CEO & Founder)
And it turns out – he was exactly right.
Michelle
Hard facts about an even harder night
Musical Madness is the name to know when it comes to hardstyle events in Germany. For nearly 20 years, Benny Reichert and his crew have been shaping the scene – with bold concepts, stacked line-ups, and unforgettable vibes. Events like Apex, Into the Madness, or their iconic club nights aren’t just fixtures on the event calendar – they’re milestones for the entire scene.
This also includes legendary nights at Bootshaus for over a decade – the venue currently ranked #7 among the best clubs in the world (DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs 2025). On May 17th, 11 p.m., they did it again: history was made right under the Zoobrücke.
Hardbrake – where the kicks hit harder than the brakes
The fourth edition of Hardbrake took place in collaboration with Musical Madness for the first time. Having attended since day one, I can confidently say this edition topped everything.
Hardbrake was – and is – more than just a club night. It is an experience. With a lineup of established greats and promising newcomers, a wide range of harder styles (mainly raw) were celebrated – all accompanied by a crowd that you couldn’t have wished for better. The lights, sound, and atmosphere amplified each other, culminating in one of those nights you won’t forget that quickly.
It all began almost a year ago in the BLCKBX. Now, all three floors of Bootshaus have been transformed into a paradise for harder styles fans at Hardbrake. Thanks to Bootshaus and Musical Madness, the intimacy of a club and the ecstasy of a festival merged into something that is hard to put into words – but everyone present felt it.
But let’s start from the beginning.
How to get there – my personal kickoff
For me, traveling by car is still my go-to. There’s easy parking (for free) right under the Zoobrücke – and honestly, what’s better than a mini pre-party with your crew at the trunk?
When I pulled up, the place was already buzzing – nearly every spot was taken. A clear sign that night’s gonna be wild. I got lucky with a front-row parking spot. Quick outfit check – and let’s go.
That Bootshaus feeling
Every single time I walk into Bootshaus, it hits me the same way: it feels like coming home. The bass already rumbling outside, lights pulsing through the doors – and you just know: the first drop is coming, and everything else fades away.
Let’s drop the jacket first – at least that was the plan. But as it often goes on nights like this: I ran into none other than Vertile – yes, this year’s Defqon.1 anthem maker – accompanied by the organizer himself. Both greeted me warmly. Right then, I knew: this night would be something special.
Backstage, the main floor was already live on the screens – goosebumps! I couldn’t wait to jump into the madness myself. But before I even made it that far, it was already happening: I was swept up by a wave of familiar faces – artists, stage crew, photographers. A sea of hugs, long hellos, happy reunions. That’s the Madness family vibe: that feeling that hits you before the music even starts. You just know: this isn’t just another party. It’s personal.
Three floors, three stories
We walked in just as Tesfy was heating up the main floor, and they didn’t waste a second. Straight from 0 to 100 – no warm-up, no mercy. I later caught up with them and asked how it felt. Their response? Short, sweet, honest: “Really good – toooo good.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. And that vibe? It just kept rolling.
BLCKBX – where raw gets real
A quick detour to the BLCKBX – The Saints were on. Midnight sharp, the room was rammed, and the energy? Off the charts. That unique combo of darkness, lights, raw power: the BLCKBX magic hits differently every single time. This floor is just made for it: rough edges, no compromise – just pure rawstyle.
If your heart beats for the gritty side of hardstyle, this was your sanctuary. Sparkz, Element, Omnya, Nutkix, Unload vs. Infliction – each set pushed the limits further. And then there was MC Flo: mic in hand, lungs of steel, driving the crowd like a man on a mission. The room? A full-on pressure cooker. The dancefloor packed ‘til the lights came on. It screamed one thing: Pure. Madness.
MAINSTAGE – kicks, emotions, and escalation
Back on the main stage, the journey continued with everyone’s favorite twins – Sound Rush. Euphoric, melodic, pure feel-good vibes. Smiles everywhere, hands in the air – the perfect warm embrace before the storm. And then came one of the absolute crowd favorites: Frequencerz with a classics set that hit straight in the feels. From the DJ booth, you could literally see the memories rushing back. Every track was a time machine, every kick struck the heart. Benny joined Frequencerz and MC Livid on stage, while Tesfy and I just hugged it out – overwhelmed, happy, goosebumps all over. That kind of energy? You can’t fake it. You can only feel it. A moment for eternity. From that point on, it was clear: you weren’t just there. You were part of it. That kind of moment where you lose track of time, get lost in the crowd and simply exist in the music.
If you know Benny, you know he’s not just the mastermind behind it all – he passionately lives it. You’ll see him again and again mid-crowd, laughing, dancing, vibing with his community. He came up to me, looked me in the eyes, and said: “Put your phone away – enjoy this moment.”
He was right. This presence, this raw experience – that’s what hardstyle is all about. Getting lost to find yourself again. Just you, the music – and everything else fades to black.
Okay, okay – I did record a few clips anyway. Just had to capture that special vibe. Check out the Hardbrake highlights on our Instagram if you missed it:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17937781029001610/
Then came the one I’d been hyped for weeks in advance: Vertile. And let me tell you – his set blew every expectation out of the water. That unique energy, combined with the visual madness of Bootshaus – pure, unfiltered ecstasy. Fitting, right? Just days before, the first Defqon.1 wristbands had landed – and now Vertile gave us a taste of what’s to come. When he dropped “Where Legends Rise”, his Defqon.1 anthem, you could feel the emotion in the crowd. “Is this even real life?”, someone whispered next to me. Yes. Yes, it was. And it felt amazing. Then came that “Wackelkontakt” remix – sudden après-ski vibes, totally unexpected – followed by “Deutscher Krach” (German Noise). At first it felt a bit weird, but you know what? It slapped. Still had us going wild.
Just when you thought there couldn’t be more fire, in came Aversion. And he came in hot, no mercy. One banger after another – relentless. Dirty kicks, raw madness, pure escalation. This wasn’t just a set. This was a euphoric demolition mission. You could feel the crowd fusing together. Different styles, different stories – yet in that moment, we shared one single heartbeat. That’s the beauty of this community: You might start as strangers, but when the drop hits – you belong together. It’s intense, chaotic, loud – but full of love and respect. Everyone’s there for one reason. The music. The feeling. The fire.
I was back on stage again – and you could instantly sense it: what’s happening down there was real. Every artist gave their all – and they also celebrated each other. As one finished the set, the next was already dancing besides, hyping everyone up, fully in the vibe. Mutilator? Almost folded himself in half to film Aversion’s drop – I couldn’t help but laugh about his artistic contribution! It was euphoric, chaotic, passionate. And it just kept going. His own set? The embodiment of madness. As MC Livid put it perfectly: “Bootshaus vibes = always 100 percent and more!” And of course, that’s also thanks to him. Livid did what he does best – hyping up the crowd with raw energy and perfect timing. His voice was the pulse that kept the night alive.
5 AM. Bootshaus? Still buzzing like crazy. Mainstage? Still packed. The only question in the air: “Wait – it’s over already? Where did the time go?!” The Smiler took over for the grand finale. And he brought it all: heavy, emotional, merciless. A closing that carried us through that last hour – and straight into sunrise. I loved every second. And I’m pretty sure everyone else there did too. Because this night? It was firey. Start to finish. No brakes. Just Hardbrake.
DREHEREI – at home with friends
This wasn’t just a set – it was a takeover. Zelecter All Night Long, five hours behind the decks – but never alone. Umpteen guests – newcomers, producers, fans – joined him one by one throughout the night. Each one got their moment to shine: spinning tracks, dropping favorites, sharing energy.
The first three hours? A celebration of classics. Then things got wild – a few raw bombs snuck into the mix. Even Benny jumped in for a few tracks. For Zelecter, it was a challenge: to adapt to all these different personalities and styles, react spontaneously, keep the flow going. And he absolutely crushed it. You could feel the love in the air. The crowd was locked in, vibing hard. And for all those up-and-coming talents? A night they’ll never forget. If you’re talking community vibes – it doesn’t get more real than this.
Final thoughts – can we do it all over again?
I had a feeling this night would be special – and it didn’t disappoint. Each floor had just the right vibe: enough space to dance, to breathe, to fully take in the moment. No chaos, no stress – just pure freedom to enjoy the music the way it was meant to be experienced.
Three floors, three different worlds – yet one heartbeat: hardstyle. The line-up? On point. Carefully curated and packed with highlights. You could feel the energy in the air: outdoor season had officially started, and everyone was more than ready. The artists came in hungry – delivering everything from all-time classics to banging new IDs. The crowd was buzzing. The crew? On fire, down to the smallest details.
Once again, Musical Madness didn’t just throw an event – they created memories. This wasn’t just another night out. It was a feeling. And honestly? I can’t wait to feel it again.