As the saying goes, "Happiness is a Label Called Go Mental". Well, on the experience of last night, it can be safely said that "Happiness is also a rave organized by Go Mental called Future Dance"!! Arriving at around 9:30pm, we were pleasantly surprised to arrive at the Castle Studios to find no queue whatsoever. After a relatively friendly frisking (not in that way, tut tut!) by the security we entered this brand new venue with smiles on our faces. The first room encountered was the bar, and at 12am became the Old Skool room. This was a large room with a central, large bar, selling loads of drinks at relatively sensible prices. The next room that we found was the main chill out room. The modern, clean toilets were located adjacent to this room. The last room in the chain was the main arena. Having only experienced, in raving terms, Bagleys and the Drome, venturing into this arena quite simply took my breath away. The ceiling was high, the lights were fantastic, the sound was crystal clear and very loud, the stage was well laid out (did you all spot the USH rocket??), and the inflatables and planets suspended from the ceiling were brilliant. Now the music. Well, what can I say - a heavenly mixture of all the styles that combine to make Hardcore what it is today. We had Vinyl and Impact playing some banging hardcore; we had Slippers playing some slightly slower classic anthems mixed with newer stuff only he knows how to do; we had Vibes playing a refreshingly not-too-cheesy banging set; Energy with the set of the night in my opinion with classic 95/6 hardcore; Sharkey with some wicked hard-as-you-like trancecore; and last but by absolutely no means least, Kaos showcasing the Go Mental sound with tunes like "Don't Go" and "Forever Autumn". Then there were the PAs! Having only started raving in February, I had yet to experience a PA at a rave. But, I was not to be disappointed here. Two PAs, one by the Nu Energy crew, and the other by Go Mental - both of the highest quality. Fair enough, it looked like it was being played straight from DAT, but did that matter a bit?? Of course not!! Hardcore at its finest, that's how to sum it up. What made the night, in my opinion, was not the music, the venue, the security, or the merchandise stand - irrespective of how wicked they were all - was the people. The smiley happy hardcore ravers. Each and every one having a fantastic time, loving every minute of it. It was the way everything gelled together perfectly. Go Mental, with the demise of Skelter, the back-stabbing of Dreamscape, and the rest of it, you have done the scene a world, no, a universe of good - you have proved to everyone once again that the saying is true - HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE!!! Massive, huge shouts to everyone I met - Ed, James, Natalie, Kev, Justin, Slammin Sam, Bridie, everyone I gave a smint to, all the DJs, all the MCs, everyone I kissed, everyone I hugged (that will be everyone at the rave then!), all the dancers, all the security - wicked mate! Oh, and I hope Johnny will forgive me for getting slightly over-excited and kissing him smack on the lips after the PA!!!! Slightly loved-up I think. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT MISS THE NEXT FUTURE DANCE ON JUNE 9TH! Big up all the USH crew - get ready for Slammin - here I come! Tom Bennett
