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Trance Review: John Askew & David Forbes - Vanquish out on VII
Two great forces in trance, John Askew and David Forbes, combine for their first-ever collaboration in the form of “Vanquish” — a hard-hitting tech trance roller with blistering beats, drilling 303 acids, and a huge riff. This is peak-time power with all the punch you’d expect from this combination, dropping on the label right before David joins the fold at VII’s 10th birthday in Manchester. Full power.
John Askew & David Forbes - Vanquish, Released 2026-03-06, VII
Get it: https://vii.lnk.to/Vanquish
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]John Askew & David Forbes - Vanquish [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]John Askew and David Forbes’ collaborative track “Vanquish” is a masterclass in modern tech trance production, showcasing exceptional technical prowess and creative synergy. At 140 BPM, the track delivers an unrelenting rhythmic drive supported by tight, heavy kicks and metallic techno basslines that sustain energy from start to finish. Its groove is meticulously layered, balancing the relentless propulsion of the percussion with hypnotic acid patterns that evolve throughout the arrangement. The melodic hooks emerge through swirling synths and harmonically rich euphoric leads in the breakdown, providing an emotional contrast to the darker, more aggressive main body of the track. This careful interplay between harmonic layers and rhythmic elements ensures that the momentum never falters while maintaining a cohesive narrative flow. The production techniques employed in “Vanquish” are exemplary, with pristine sound design and high-end spatial effects that create a fully immersive listening experience. The drops and build-ups are engineered with precision, using dynamic filtering, reverb swells, and tension-building risers that seamlessly transition between sections. The use of distortion on the 303 acid lines and subtle stereo imaging in the lead synths contributes to a wide, club-ready mix that maintains loudness without sacrificing dynamic range. The arrangement demonstrates originality and clear artistic identity, with structured storytelling that progresses naturally toward its climactic peak. Even without vocals, the track achieves emotional resonance, drawing listeners into its high-intensity journey while retaining catchy motifs that encourage repeated plays. Scientific research supports the positive impact of such high-energy electronic music on mental health and wellness activities, including fitness and group exercise classes. Studies indicate that rhythmic entrainment to electronic dance music enhances mood, increases dopamine release, and improves cardiovascular endurance during physical activity (Karageorghis & Priest, 2012). Immersive soundscapes and uplifting harmonic progressions such as those found in “Vanquish” can contribute to reduced stress levels and heightened motivation (Thoma et al., 2013). Additionally, the track’s pulse-driven energy and emotionally rich breakdowns stimulate both psychological arousal and mental focus, making it ideal for wellness settings such as spin classes, high-intensity interval training, or even guided movement meditation sessions where music-induced flow states are desired. The track’s club and festival suitability is unquestionable, with its extended intro and outro structures allowing seamless integration into DJ sets, and its BPM consistency facilitating effortless beat-matching and looping. Each cue point offers potential for creative layering, while the progression maintains a dynamic energy flow that is likely to elicit strong crowd reactions. Through its combination of technical excellence, emotional expressiveness, and physical impact, “Vanquish” succeeds not only as a peak-time trance weapon but as a track that enriches human experience through both physiological and psychological channels. #PureGold Love IT [/content]
[item value="10"]Rhythm, Groove & Drive[/item][item value="10"]Melodic Hooks & Harmonic Layers[/item]
[item value="10"]Transitions, Drops & Build-Ups [/item]
[item value="10"]Energy Flow & Momentum [/item]
[item value="10"]Sound Design & Production Quality[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality of Arrangement & Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]Use of Effects & Spatial Design[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Range & Loudness Balance[/item]
[item value="10"]Atmosphere & Immersion[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional Resonance[/item]
[item value="10"]Creativity & Artistic Identity[/item]
[item value="10"]Cohesion & Storytelling[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocal Performance & Lyrical Impact[/item]
[item value="10"]Catchiness & Replay Value[/item]
[item value="10"]Club / Festival Suitability[/item]
[item value="10"]Track Intro/Outro Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]BPM Consistency & Sync Ease[/item]
[item value="10"]Cue Points & Loop Potential[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Energy for Set Flow[/item]
[item value="10"]Crowd Reaction Potential[/item]
[/review]
Suggested Bibliography:
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44–66.
Thoma, M. V., Ryf, S., Mohiyeddini, C., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). Emotion regulation through listening to music in everyday situations. Cognition and Emotion, 27(3), 534–543.
Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(3), 170–180.Schäfer, T., Sedlmeier, P., Städtler, C., & Huron, D. (2013). The psychological functions of music listening. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 511.
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