Below you'll find the results for the top 100 tracks, top artists, albums, and labels from the 2025, as voted on by members here on TranceFix.
Thanks to everyone who voted. Due to the track increase from 10 to 20 this year we received over 3000 track submissions, across roughly 750 unique tracks, from just over 150 member votes.
We hope you like the results
Artist of the Year
Winner: Enigma State
Runner up: Hoopoe
Special Mention: Alvar, Aeon Shift, Coredata, Chris Johnson, Luke Terry, Activa, Close Proximity
Big congratulations to @EnigmaState , whose TranceFix trophy cabinet is absolutely stacked now, after what is likely his strongest year to date seeing the release his album Of The Essence, the launch of his label Transtate, and more DJ performances around the world. This community cries out for classic sounds and arrangements more than any place on the internet, and as long as he keeps delivering that we'll keep showing our appreciation.
Congrats to @hoopoe for runner up, whose format of reliable monthly drops always gave us something to look forward to, impressing with a recognizable signature sound and this year showcasing a talent for producing different genres and moods. The majority of his tracks feature in the top 100 and his nu-trance mixes are also some of the best you'll hear all year. Fantastic producer.
Special mentions is shopping list this year, we had so many on-form producers with high outputs. Aeon Shift, Luke Terry and @Chris Johnson Music were very prolific and have settled on a really nice sound. @Coredata puts out more infrequently but is at a different level when he does, and Activa quietly continues to drop originals and remixes throughout the year which are often the peak of his label. Alvar (@oneofthesame) also gets a mention for his Peak Experience label and delightful new sound he's been developing, and finally Close Proximity, a newcomer who made a great impression with lots of uplifting nu-trance sounds.
Album of the Year
Winner: Enigma State - Of The Essence
Runner up: Narel - Apricity
Special Mention: Alvar - The Mist, Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Beams
The wait was well worth it for Enigma States debut album Of The Essence. Packed to the brim with emotional, high energy trance, and not a single moment of filler. A testament to this is that almost every track from the album featured in the top 100, with many of you having different favorites. The oldschool sounds and arrangements are amazing and the melodies are some of the best in the genre. Big congrats Nath on such a fantastic release. Congrats again @EnigmaState.
With competition so high this year it's almost unfair that the other albums I'm about to mention didn't get the top vote. Narel's Apricity is one of those, which is easily one of the best albums of the last 5+ years. So much talent on display across multiple genres, be it breaks, deep trance or ambient and as a journey its one that just gets better and better with each listen. Congrats @Narel
And for special mentions... Alvar - The Mist, probably the nicest sounding and most technically polished album for the year gets a deserved shout out, as does Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Beams, for one of the most unique and experimental albums, with visionary tracks that simply no one else is doing. Shout out to @oneofthesame and @Super-Frog Saves Tokyo.
Label of the Year
Winner: Borderline
Runner up: Pure Trance
Special Mention: Peak Experience
Congrats to Activa and the Borderline crew, who take no.1 spot for the fourth year running. They are an unstoppable force now, and this was probably their best year yet, seeing 17 tracks in the top 100. Just feels like they got even more diverse with the sounds they put out, and they have an ability to get the best out of artists who choose to release on their label vs. other common ones. So much appreciation for what these guys are doing.
Runner up is Pure Trance, who are reliably giving us a variety of Trance quality every year now. This is actually the most diverse label family in the scene, supporting darker sounds like Coredata and Digital Blonde, classic sounds, lighter progressive stuff, newcomers, and also really solid trancers such as the ones seen from Aeon Shift this year. Rich's passion is unmatched and long may he continue with his contribution to the scene.
Special mention to Peak Experience, a new label from Teo Bachs aka Alvar aka @oneofthesame . UTE was a bit quiet this year, explained by those boys trying new projects, delivering some of the sexiest, moodiest and high quality underground tracks of the year. It really is a level above the rest, and personally we might love this direction even more than the typical UTE releases.
Top 100 Tracks
Track of the Year: Avalon 62. - Undulatus Asparatus
Runner up: Coredata - Kaleidoscope Skies
He's one of our own, he's one of our own! Congratulations to Avalon 62 aka @Jetflag , who ran absolute riot in the voting this year to take no. 1 spot with his track Undulatus Asparatus, released on Borderline. It's such a beautiful track, with a clear identifiable Avalon 62. sound that brings tons of unique, dreamy and driving elements that are just irresistible.
Also big congrats to @Coredata, who blew us away with Kaleidoscope Skies. One of the most expressive and creative tracks from the year, which captures a lost art of musicality that few seem to be able to replicate today.
For some stats - He may not have got the no. 1 track this year, but Enigma State features the most in the vote with 10 tracks, followed by Hoopoe with 7, and newcomer Close Proximity with 5.
For labels we have Borderline with the aforementioned 17 tracks, Transtate with 11, and with great happiness I see TF Recordings next in line with 7.
The increase in track voting limit made things so much better this year in terms of getting clearer, more significant results, so for the first time we have a full ranked top 50, and unranked 51-100. We hope you like what you see!
Ranked - Top 50
2025 Scene Review
This was a really good year for Trance. In previous years tracks around the 100th position are starting to push the limits of whats considered high-quality, but this year you wouldn't believe how many great tracks that had to be dropped. There is quite literally another 100 tracks we would deem worthy of a listen, and it's never typically been like that. A user made a thread this year claiming 2026 the best year since 2010, and I would find it hard to disagree with that sentiment.
All the albums really helped, we were spoilt for choice. Outside of the four previously mentioned we also had votes for Cold Blue, Above & Beyond, Mikkel Rev, Repulsive Force, Irini, Digital Blonde, Factor B, Estiva and others. Great year for albums.
Compilations are a different story. As you've noticed there were no awards given this time, simply because there were not enough votes to meaningfully choose one. Most users left that field blank, and the rest was scattered around. Let's hope next year things change, and maybe those underground labels start getting less scared about creating mixed journeys.
On the topic of the underground... it felt somewhat of an underwhelming year. Apart from some bright moments from Repulsive Force, Alvar and Mikkel Rev, and popular EP's from Close Proximity, Seo John and Mahkina, things felt a bit sparse, and that you really had to dig harder than ever to find gems. Nu-trance mixes are still quite pumping and enjoyable, but familiar names are becoming less reliable and tracks are rarely embracing the full Trance sound. The nu-trance/nu-prog movement kicked off around 6 years now, so maybe the next phase of musical change is upon us, and things are tailing off, but it would be tragic if we start loosing momentum.
The 'conventional' scene in contrast was really strong. Maybe it's not the most diverse year ever, as very few progressive, vocal or sub-style tracks made the final 100, but the clean, classic inspired, straight-forwards sounds are perhaps better than they've been in two decades.
Ultimately if you're the type of listener who can find appreciation across the variety of different scenes, then things are certainly quite positive, as you can find satisfaction from different pockets and artists and finish the year with some form of abundance. If you instead find enjoyment only from specific sub-styles, like Deep Trance, or Uplifting, then I understand if your perspective is much bleaker. The genre does keep moving along though regardless, and we don't see it stopping any time soon.
TF Updates
We moved to a new host! There was so much site crashing this year (see below), but eventually we figured it all out, so those traumatic periods where you couldn't get your fix for a few hours should hopefully become a distant memory soon enough.
We've also conquered China. @NameLessYet must have been spreading the word because 190,000 different users have been logged from China
. Whatever social media posts your making keep it up mate.
Bot farms aside, there is actual growth from real users to be seen. If I exclude China and Singapore from the data it's a 142% increase in unique visitors compared to last year. Lots of people across the world consuming all the music being shared here, great to see. No visitors from Burkina Faso though, so we've got goals for 2026.
On that note, thanks to @skyriderz @Z Dobrej Woli @TRANCEBLASTER, @erickUO and others, whose consistent sharing is the life blood of forum.
And thanks to everyone else who makes this small but legendary community so good! Fucking love this place.
That's it, cheers everyone, here's to another great year.
Thanks to everyone who voted. Due to the track increase from 10 to 20 this year we received over 3000 track submissions, across roughly 750 unique tracks, from just over 150 member votes.
We hope you like the results
Artist of the Year
Winner: Enigma State
Runner up: Hoopoe
Special Mention: Alvar, Aeon Shift, Coredata, Chris Johnson, Luke Terry, Activa, Close Proximity
Big congratulations to @EnigmaState , whose TranceFix trophy cabinet is absolutely stacked now, after what is likely his strongest year to date seeing the release his album Of The Essence, the launch of his label Transtate, and more DJ performances around the world. This community cries out for classic sounds and arrangements more than any place on the internet, and as long as he keeps delivering that we'll keep showing our appreciation.
Congrats to @hoopoe for runner up, whose format of reliable monthly drops always gave us something to look forward to, impressing with a recognizable signature sound and this year showcasing a talent for producing different genres and moods. The majority of his tracks feature in the top 100 and his nu-trance mixes are also some of the best you'll hear all year. Fantastic producer.
Special mentions is shopping list this year, we had so many on-form producers with high outputs. Aeon Shift, Luke Terry and @Chris Johnson Music were very prolific and have settled on a really nice sound. @Coredata puts out more infrequently but is at a different level when he does, and Activa quietly continues to drop originals and remixes throughout the year which are often the peak of his label. Alvar (@oneofthesame) also gets a mention for his Peak Experience label and delightful new sound he's been developing, and finally Close Proximity, a newcomer who made a great impression with lots of uplifting nu-trance sounds.
Album of the Year
Winner: Enigma State - Of The Essence
Runner up: Narel - Apricity
Special Mention: Alvar - The Mist, Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Beams
The wait was well worth it for Enigma States debut album Of The Essence. Packed to the brim with emotional, high energy trance, and not a single moment of filler. A testament to this is that almost every track from the album featured in the top 100, with many of you having different favorites. The oldschool sounds and arrangements are amazing and the melodies are some of the best in the genre. Big congrats Nath on such a fantastic release. Congrats again @EnigmaState.
With competition so high this year it's almost unfair that the other albums I'm about to mention didn't get the top vote. Narel's Apricity is one of those, which is easily one of the best albums of the last 5+ years. So much talent on display across multiple genres, be it breaks, deep trance or ambient and as a journey its one that just gets better and better with each listen. Congrats @Narel
And for special mentions... Alvar - The Mist, probably the nicest sounding and most technically polished album for the year gets a deserved shout out, as does Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Beams, for one of the most unique and experimental albums, with visionary tracks that simply no one else is doing. Shout out to @oneofthesame and @Super-Frog Saves Tokyo.
Label of the Year
Winner: Borderline
Runner up: Pure Trance
Special Mention: Peak Experience
Congrats to Activa and the Borderline crew, who take no.1 spot for the fourth year running. They are an unstoppable force now, and this was probably their best year yet, seeing 17 tracks in the top 100. Just feels like they got even more diverse with the sounds they put out, and they have an ability to get the best out of artists who choose to release on their label vs. other common ones. So much appreciation for what these guys are doing.
Runner up is Pure Trance, who are reliably giving us a variety of Trance quality every year now. This is actually the most diverse label family in the scene, supporting darker sounds like Coredata and Digital Blonde, classic sounds, lighter progressive stuff, newcomers, and also really solid trancers such as the ones seen from Aeon Shift this year. Rich's passion is unmatched and long may he continue with his contribution to the scene.
Special mention to Peak Experience, a new label from Teo Bachs aka Alvar aka @oneofthesame . UTE was a bit quiet this year, explained by those boys trying new projects, delivering some of the sexiest, moodiest and high quality underground tracks of the year. It really is a level above the rest, and personally we might love this direction even more than the typical UTE releases.
Top 100 Tracks
Track of the Year: Avalon 62. - Undulatus Asparatus
Runner up: Coredata - Kaleidoscope Skies
He's one of our own, he's one of our own! Congratulations to Avalon 62 aka @Jetflag , who ran absolute riot in the voting this year to take no. 1 spot with his track Undulatus Asparatus, released on Borderline. It's such a beautiful track, with a clear identifiable Avalon 62. sound that brings tons of unique, dreamy and driving elements that are just irresistible.
Also big congrats to @Coredata, who blew us away with Kaleidoscope Skies. One of the most expressive and creative tracks from the year, which captures a lost art of musicality that few seem to be able to replicate today.
For some stats - He may not have got the no. 1 track this year, but Enigma State features the most in the vote with 10 tracks, followed by Hoopoe with 7, and newcomer Close Proximity with 5.
For labels we have Borderline with the aforementioned 17 tracks, Transtate with 11, and with great happiness I see TF Recordings next in line with 7.
The increase in track voting limit made things so much better this year in terms of getting clearer, more significant results, so for the first time we have a full ranked top 50, and unranked 51-100. We hope you like what you see!
Ranked - Top 50
- Aerium pres. Avalon 62 - Undulatus Asparatus [Borderline]
- Coredata - Kaleidoscope Skies [Borderline]
- Brandt Hoff - Aurora Pulse [TF Recordings]
- J1S - Solstice [Transtate Records]
- Aeon Shift - Echoes In Eternity [Borderline]
- Bonna - Sacred Soul (Pheonix Rebirth Mix) [Peak Experience]
- Enigma State - Mijmering [Transtate Records]
- Alvar - The Mist [Peak Experience]
- Enigma State - Essence of Life [Transtate Records]
- Sunda - Lunar (Activa Remix) [Borderline]
- Mikkel Rev - Journey Beyond [A Strangely Isolated Place]
- Hoopoe - Mindfield [Hedjog Records]
- Enigma State - Legion [Transtate Records]
- Luke Terry & Chris Johnson pres. Taisaku - Fuyu [Pure Trance]
- Narel - Tired Mountain Syndrome [Forescape Digital]
- Coredata - Shimmer [Pure Progressive]
- Close Proximity - Acid is my DNA [Minitel]
- Enigma State - The Moonman [Transtate Records]
- Alvar - Follow [Peak Experience]
- Repulsive Force - D.R.D [The Levitating Frog]
- Enigma State - LSD of XTC [Transtate Records]
- Aerium pres. Avalon 62 - Pacasmayo [Borderline]
- Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Clarion [Electronic Architecture]
- Brandt Hoff - Sunset [TF Recordings]
- Narel - Ephemerides [Forescape Digital]
- Lostly - Forever (Aeon Shift Remix) [Pure Trance]
- Enigma State - Emotions [Transtate Records]
- Activa - Lakota [Borderline]
- Aeon Shift - Nova [Borderline]
- Adam Reece - Thoughts of Passion & Darkness [Borderline]
- Narel - Annica (A Song for Matt) [Forescape Digital]
- Hoopoe - Ocean Blue [Hedjog Records]
- Rambal Cochet - Amnesia [Sengiley Records]
- Sleep D - Green Thumbs [Butter Sessions]
- Aerium - Aguile [TF Recordings]
- Hoopoe - Severn Bridge [Hedjog Records]
- Signum - Homage [Anjunabeats]
- Hoopoe - Aryaduta [Hedjog Records]
- Activa - Outlander (Mac & Monday Remix) [Borderline]
- Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Mondrago [Electronic Architecture]
- Cold Blue - Into The Rain [Cold Blue Music]
- Seo John - Dewpoint [Self Release]
- Brand Hoff - Orange Horizon [TF Recordings]
- Lostly - Alone [Lostly Music]
- The Digital Blonde & Idiosyncrasy - Occam’s Razor [JOOF Recordings]
- Jon Mangan - Uno [Borderline]
- Tyler Ov Gaia - Temple Ov Ghost (Mental Doors Mix) [Ekstasis]
- Brandt Hoff - Solar [TF Recordings]
- Enigma State - Wanting [Transtate Records]
- Grant Trowbridge - Stardust [Borderline]
- Alvar - I Need [Peak Experience]
- Hoopoe - Bulan [Hedjog Records]
- The Thrillseekers - Everything Now [Adjusted Music]
- Close Proximity - Pure Ascendence [Minitel]
- Brandt Hoff - Aurora Pulse (Julian Del Agranda Remix) [TF Recordings]
- Enlusion - Limerence [Forescape Digital]
- Alvar - Life Essence [Peak Experience]
- Ishiro - Akashic [Pure Trance]
- Tornado Wallace - Bitter Suite [Test Pressing Recordings]
- Coredata - Talking Waves [JOOF Recordings]
- Chris Johnson & Defintions - Lost in Tokyo [Borderline]
- Quietman - Haley’s Comet [Self Release]
- Art of Trance- Seven Sisters [Platipus Recordings]
- Enigma State - Should [Transtate Records]
- Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Minds [Electronic Architecture]
- Stella Nova - Orbital [TF Recordings]
- Fantastic Man - Genesis (Anthem Mix) [The Axis Of The People]
- Repulsive Force - Lysglimt (Nytt Hap Mix) [The Levitation Frog]
- Spriitzz feat. Merely - Sunscreen (Live Mix) [Punctuality]
- Digital Blonde - Amazium [JOOF Recordings]
- Close Proximity - Need Somebody [DISCHI]
- Enigma State - Discover Way [Transtate Records]
- Priori - Memory Place (Maara Remix) [Midgar]
- Mahkina - Spectral Bond [Pyramid Fields]
- Tourman - Mana Potion [Neptune Discs]
- Grant Trowbridge - Hong Lim Park (Activa Remix) [Borderline]
- Stoneface & Terminal - Echoscape
- Cybernet - Veil Walker [Neptune Discs]
- Ke Jo - Golden Era [Self Release]
- Jon Mangan - Aether [Borderline]
- Activa & Luke Terry - Pandemonium [Borderline]
- Luke Terry - Studlagil [Pure Trance]
- Seo John - Painted Woods [Self Release]
- Close Proximity - Alive [Dischi]
- Body Clinic - Bongo Loco [Neptune Discs]
- Makhina - Godform [Pyramid Fields]
- Aeon Shift - Elysian [Pure Trance NEON]
- Enigma State - Illuminate [Transtate Records]
- Hoopoe - Bodywave [Hedjog Records]
- Close Proximity - The Source [DISCHI]
- Aerium - Terraces [Aerium Music]
- Nomas - Remember Me, I'll Remember You [JOOF Recordings]
- Chris Johnson - The Mystery [Borderline]
- Luke Terry - Magik Epoch [Borderline]
- Irini - As We Go High [All Possible Worlds]
- Hoopoe - L’Elisir d’Amore [Hedjog Records]
- Gouryella - Marama [Flashover]
- Mahkina - From Another Realm [Pyramid Fields]
- Otto K - Inhabbited Island (Lawn Jarre Hypnotic Mix) [Lost Language]
- Wigs - Oxygen [Discoteca]
2025 Scene Review
This was a really good year for Trance. In previous years tracks around the 100th position are starting to push the limits of whats considered high-quality, but this year you wouldn't believe how many great tracks that had to be dropped. There is quite literally another 100 tracks we would deem worthy of a listen, and it's never typically been like that. A user made a thread this year claiming 2026 the best year since 2010, and I would find it hard to disagree with that sentiment.
All the albums really helped, we were spoilt for choice. Outside of the four previously mentioned we also had votes for Cold Blue, Above & Beyond, Mikkel Rev, Repulsive Force, Irini, Digital Blonde, Factor B, Estiva and others. Great year for albums.
Compilations are a different story. As you've noticed there were no awards given this time, simply because there were not enough votes to meaningfully choose one. Most users left that field blank, and the rest was scattered around. Let's hope next year things change, and maybe those underground labels start getting less scared about creating mixed journeys.
On the topic of the underground... it felt somewhat of an underwhelming year. Apart from some bright moments from Repulsive Force, Alvar and Mikkel Rev, and popular EP's from Close Proximity, Seo John and Mahkina, things felt a bit sparse, and that you really had to dig harder than ever to find gems. Nu-trance mixes are still quite pumping and enjoyable, but familiar names are becoming less reliable and tracks are rarely embracing the full Trance sound. The nu-trance/nu-prog movement kicked off around 6 years now, so maybe the next phase of musical change is upon us, and things are tailing off, but it would be tragic if we start loosing momentum.
The 'conventional' scene in contrast was really strong. Maybe it's not the most diverse year ever, as very few progressive, vocal or sub-style tracks made the final 100, but the clean, classic inspired, straight-forwards sounds are perhaps better than they've been in two decades.
Ultimately if you're the type of listener who can find appreciation across the variety of different scenes, then things are certainly quite positive, as you can find satisfaction from different pockets and artists and finish the year with some form of abundance. If you instead find enjoyment only from specific sub-styles, like Deep Trance, or Uplifting, then I understand if your perspective is much bleaker. The genre does keep moving along though regardless, and we don't see it stopping any time soon.
TF Updates
We moved to a new host! There was so much site crashing this year (see below), but eventually we figured it all out, so those traumatic periods where you couldn't get your fix for a few hours should hopefully become a distant memory soon enough.
We've also conquered China. @NameLessYet must have been spreading the word because 190,000 different users have been logged from China
. Whatever social media posts your making keep it up mate.Bot farms aside, there is actual growth from real users to be seen. If I exclude China and Singapore from the data it's a 142% increase in unique visitors compared to last year. Lots of people across the world consuming all the music being shared here, great to see. No visitors from Burkina Faso though, so we've got goals for 2026.
On that note, thanks to @skyriderz @Z Dobrej Woli @TRANCEBLASTER, @erickUO and others, whose consistent sharing is the life blood of forum.
And thanks to everyone else who makes this small but legendary community so good! Fucking love this place.
That's it, cheers everyone, here's to another great year.
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