2025 has been the best year for Trance since 2010

[Air_Water]

I’m calling it. This is the best year for Trance since 2010. I had already been getting more excited about trance and the scene direction since around 2020, but since going deeper, and with the help of this forum, I feel like this is the highest amount of quality tracks we have had in 15 years or more. What other year might compare? Nothing comes to thought at this time.

In part it's because both underground and mainstream (not commercial) scenes are providing the goods in their own way. Borderline is carrying a lot of the scene. As an example, Aerium and Coredata have made some of the best tracks in the year. Activa Collabs EP and M&M, Chris Johnson, Definition, Aeon shift and others have dropped great music.

As for the underground and obscure stuff being posted by the members here.... I don’t know how you find most of what you post. Trancefix is like my lifeline to good underground music. Mikkel Rev - Journey Beyond was an unreal find. I have a list of like 25 tracks from your guys on the wishlist. Was the underground that good in the early 10's? I don't remember it being there at all, apart from JOOF.

And the best part of 2025 has been the albums. An Enigma State album, a Narel album, an Astral Projection album and Super Frog Album, and the Cold Blue album surprised me, and If Magnus and Fleming get theirs in before the year is up then its surely one of the most excellent years for albums in the modern era. Let's not forget also Hoopoe who can also be added to that list, with the monthly drops, and the lit Brandt Hoff EP from the trancefix label.

I'll make this a bit of a celebration thread then. I'm not trying to say we are back to the glory days, but I've noticed a real change, backed up by increase volume and diversity of sounds. I will share some of my favorites, so return the favour, if you please.


Aerium - Undalatus Asparatus (TOTY)


Makhina - From Another Realm

 

[Aquarium]

Amen brother! I’ve loved this year and have been discovering so much. I say this every year but Borderlines strongest year so far. I’ve been addicted to these especially.

Activa - Lakota

Enigma State - Legion

 

[tranceissomewhatalive]

hmm not so sure, I would say it's been a few years already since trance stopped being completely stuck and miserable, however what I hate about 2025 in particular is the pseudo90s upbeat 'rave' garbage trend forced by armada, too many of that annoying shit already.

 

[Pokkryshkin]

This year is definitely better than the last one in terms of trance music. Maybe you could share your preliminary top 10 for this year in the comments? Although I’m only confident about one track so far 1) Brandt Hoff - Aurora Pulse

 

[Hensmon]

I remember 2014 being a year I really liked, so will have to go back and see how it compares. I agree with what you said though, I also got more excited and optimistic about Trance around the 2019/2020 too. Underground I have mixed feelings. Some good tracks this year, but hasn't been a ton to get excited about. Not many albums, or good compilations.

Here's my fav prog track of the year

Torando Walla - Bitter Suite

 

[Jetflag]

Aerium - Undalatus Asparatus (TOTY)

thanks man, appriciated

I hate about 2025 in particular is the pseudo90s upbeat 'rave' garbage trend forced by armada, too many of that annoying shit already.

I actually love that about this year, its a trend sure..but the fact that I hear early 2000's/90 bouchy 909 kicks with amp distortion, clean hh and crashes on the beeping radio in my car again?

not gonna lie, i'm down with it.... especially if its done in a bit more sophisticated way like the stuff Julian makes. Just brings back so many good memories

 

[tranceissomewhatalive]

I actually love that about this year, its a trend sure..but the fact that I hear early 2000's/90 bouchy 909 kicks with amp distortion, clean hh and crashes on the beeping radio in my car again?

not gonna lie, i'm down with it.... especially if its done in a bit more sophisticated way like the stuff Julian makes. Just brings back so many good memories

each to its own mate, I find a lot of those tracks very lazy/sloppy done and of course melodically utterly cheesy

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

Underground I have mixed feelings. Some good tracks this year, but hasn't been a ton to get excited about. Not many albums, or good compilations.

I've been going through my haul for this year and feel like the standout Nutrance stuff is few and far between. Some gems here and there., but a LOT of filler and weakness. Personally I think a lot of the key players in the scene are moving on. Not enough attention or $$ to keep em around. Ditto on the compilations. The ones we do have are weak IMO, and very little in the true trance dept.

Here's my fav prog track of the year

This is simply gorgeous, even if it doesn't grow as much as I would like. The whole EP is pretty solid too, thanks for sharing. I've found by best stuff on more mainstream labels this year too. That one Activa remix EP, the Otto K release. Curious to see what others' have picked up.

In general I do agree the mainstream is getting better while UG is getter worse and less trancey. Best since 2010? I dunno. I loved a lot of what was coming out in 2017-2019 especially in the prog scene.

 

[Hensmon]

Personally I think a lot of the key players in the scene are moving on. Not enough attention or $$ to keep em around

I don't think these guys are in it for money to begin with, so personally don't believe they are just chasing a trend. Maybe influenced by shifting club culture and popularity within the scene they are plugged into, but that's fine. Sounds to me like they are making the same music as always, just not as good. Scene sounds used to change every 5/6 years anyway, so maybe its just a natural thing.

 

[NameLessYet]

And the best part of 2025 has been the albums. An Enigma State album, a Narel album, an Astral Projection album and Super Frog Album, and the Cold Blue album surprised me

I also strongly recommend the Quietman album, and Solarstone album as well. It will be hard for me to choose which one to vote for the TranceFix Best Of 2025.

Quietman - Trancestors


Solarstone - innermost

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

I don't think these guys are in it for money to begin with, so personally don't believe they are just chasing a trend. Maybe influenced by shifting club culture and popularity within the scene they are plugged into, but that's fine. Sounds to me like they are making the same music as always, just not as good. Scene sounds used to change every 5/6 years anyway, so maybe its just a natural thing.

I don't mean it like they are chasing a living. or real dollars. I mean that the producers are trying out trancey sounds, not seeing sales or a thriving growing scene, and shifting direction. Some of the tops from 2021-2023 are just gone, some just make tech house now, lots just aren't putting in the same effort (looking at you Pits). What's in it for them? I dunno, the quality hasn't kept up and the demand certainly doesn't seem to be there. We're a niche in a niche in an old folks home mate.

 

[Contraband]

This SEO John EP was dope

Dew Point

Temporal Flow

 

[Motion]

It has been a good year

Coredata - Kalaiedescope Skies, and the other one he released was good. A lot of decent Borderline releases this year in general

 

[m_st]

if you look at 2022 you might be impressed, as that was a good time. today i always try and give the typical scene and artists a try, so i pay attention to suggestions made here, and sometimes it works with enigma state or narel, but I prefer the deep sounds and this year it's not been so good, just ok. i want the explosion of underground trance to take place and i never give up that it will, but still we must wait longer.

Bönna - Sacred Soul

Bönna - De Syv Snyder

 

[Unjungle]

I would say it‘s a good year, but ‚the best‘ is always hard to say… some very good artist albums, as posted here already, but mix compilations didn‘t see any great release. I was disappointed for cancelling Movement 2 and ISOS was so weak you can‘t list it in here.

I found peace with both dj mixes of Aerium, this was ‚the best‘ trance experience for me this year. And being here a lot for checking new stuff.

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

Foley - Caller (Power Mix)

\

Foley - Lost In Translation



Cyanica - Pivotal

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

Oprofessionell - Evolver

 

[Air_Water]

hmm not so sure, I would say it's been a few years already since trance stopped being completely stuck and miserable

What year would you say has been better?

 

[tranceissomewhatalive]

What year would you say has been better?

I don't know from years, how do I compare, let's say 2021 to 2023 now from the end of 2025? One thing I am sure about is that this sped up pseudo 90s rave shit that annoys me, it never was as present and as trendy as now in 2025, I don't think it was even a thing until Calvin Harris dropped that 'Miracle' tune, and then it did good in terms of numbers and hype it generated so every commercial Djs wanted their own track of that style and then the others, those who use these Djs as career role models started copying that style and here we are, the domino effect is working its goddamn magic.

Ofc, there were probably even more template crap 138-140 uplifters back in those years, I remember during 2020-2024, when checking Beatport for new releases, it often seemed like this narrow BPM range has about 90% of all the new trance releases, it felt annoying too but to taste still not as disgusting as all these 145-150+ BPM degga-degga of now.

so to answer your question shortly, I'd go for any year around 2021-2024 but I'm not so sure which one exactly to pick

 

[Hensmon]

Some more favorites from me

Superfrog Saves Tokyo


Fantastic Man - Genesis (Anthem Mix) + Lekker Tekker Mix