Neophyte

Neophyte has stood for Dutch hardcore and gabber since the early nineties, both as a group and through the solo performances of its founder, Jeroen Streunding. The project has become an established name in the gabber scene, releasing its own music while also providing a platform for other acts through Neophyte Records.

The story began in Rotterdam in 1992, when Streunding joined forces with Danny Greten and Robin van Roon. The trio built their first tracks on an old Amiga computer. DJ Paul Elstak initially dismissed the results as mere noise, but after further attempts signed them to Rotterdam Records. When van Roon left in 1995, guitarist Jarno Butter joined the live line-up. Neophyte also worked under names including Bodylotion and Hard Creation, while Streunding performs solo as DJ Neophyte.

“Braincracking” brought the group attention in the early nineties, while “Hardcore to the Bone” later became one of their best-known tracks. The compilation album “13 Jaar Terreur” reached number 29 in the Dutch album charts in 2005 and remained there for 13 weeks. Neophyte has also appeared regularly at major events including Thunderdome and Masters of Hardcore.

Hardcore remains at the heart of the sound, but Neophyte has several faces on stage: Streunding takes to the decks as a DJ, while the group also performs live as Masters of Ceremony. Festival audiences encounter a long gabber history in an act that continues to perform, release music and run its label.