Armada Music Premieres ‘The Comeback of Hard House’ - A New Documentary on the Rebirth of a '90s Club Phenomenon

Amsterdam – Thursday, June 5, 2025 – Armada Music is proud to announce the release of The Comeback of Hard House, a new genre-focused documentary charting the explosive return of one of dance music’s most iconic sub-genres. Centered on the Dutch corner of the hard house movement of the ‘90s, the film explores how a once-underground genre is storming back into the spotlight – louder, cheekier, and more energetic than ever.

Click here to watch The Comeback of Hard House

Deeply rooted in the iconic Midtown Records catalog, the Dutch hard house scene forms the backbone of The Comeback of Hard House. This 10-minute documentary traces the genre’s rise, fall, and full-circle revival from a distinctly Dutch perspective. Featuring exclusive interviews with foundational ‘90s acts like Club Caviar (aka Mass Medium), Klubbheads, and B.O.B. Ltd (aka Sax Brothers), as well as contemporary producers such as Benwal and Maruwa, the film captures both the legacy and the lasting influence of the Netherlands’ contribution to hard house.

The documentary examines how the pandemic played a pivotal role in the rediscovery of this corner of hard house. With dance floors closed and energy bottled up, the appetite for fun, fast and feel-good club music grew, and hard house delivered. By 2022 and 2023, a new generation including Peggy Gou, KI/KI and KETTAMA had embraced the genre, from supporting tracks in their sets, to remixing in their own styles, while original producers like Club Caviar were inspired to return to the studio and the stage. Once tied to a specific time and place, hard house is now echoing in sets and playlists worldwide. With fresh tracks that sound like they were pressed in ’99, it’s clear: this isn’t just a flashback—it’s a full-blown comeback.

To mark the release of The Comeback of Hard House, Armada Music will host a special hard house night at its own club in its Amsterdam HQ on Thursday, June 5. The evening will open with a 15-minute preview screening of The Comeback of Hard House, followed by an energetic club session featuring Kara-okay, Kyle Starkey, Club Caviar, and Eva Vrijdag, running from 7 to 11 p.m. (CEST) as a celebration of the genre’s past, present, and very lively future. 

The Comeback of Hard House premieres Thursday, June 5 on Armada Music TV (via YouTube).

For more information and/or promotional enquiries please contact Char via charlotte@armadamusic.com. 

Notes to editor:

For imagery please click here.

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About Armada Music

Armada Music is the biggest independent dance music label in the world. Founded by Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron (CEO) and David Lewis, the label manages an ever-growing catalog of over 50,000 tracks built up across twenty-plus years of specialized dance music exploitation.

Representing artists such as Armin van Buuren, ARTY, D.O.D, Eelke Kleijn, Jan Blomqvist, Joris Voorn, KI/KI, Lilly Palmer, Loud Luxury, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, THEMBA and Yulia Niko, Armada Music amasses more than one billion streams per month, airplay on leading radio outlets such as BBC Radio 1 and Sirius XM, and top positions in the world’s most notable charts. Significant label milestones include Armin van Buuren's Grammy nomination for 'This Is What It Feels Like' and two tracks surpassing one billion streams on Spotify: Loud Luxury and Brando’s ‘Body’ and Lost Frequencies’ ‘Are You With Me’.

Across offices in Amsterdam (HQ), New York, London and Laren (NL), Armada Music offers a global appeal to its growing roster. The label has its own club, radio studio and multiple production studios, and hosts various live formats. Producer platform Armada University, which offers educational products and opportunities, shows the label’s sustained effort to nurture the next wave of talent. For more information, visit www.armadamusic.com, @armadamusic on Instagram and @armada on X.