Welcome to the official theory of trance website.
The first category, Best of TOT, highlights what are in my opinion my best tracks. The second category, Favorites, are my personal favorites (the Best of TOT also qualify for this section). The third category, In Progress, contains tracks that I am working on. The fourth category Completed contains a bunch of completed tracks including never released material that really sucks... but new music is always fun to listen to! The last category is Unfinished, which contains unfinished tracks that I don't plan on continuing. This last category also includes loads of crap.
If you have any questions, concerns or comments, feel free to contact me: mat@theoryoftrance.com
This is my best track, hands down. It's very emotional. It's a wicked tune with awesome melodies and synths... it's very uplifting. It has been the subject of several e-mail praises from complete strangers.
Though not as popular as the #1 spot, I find that it excels greatly in its well-constructed intro, which is unbeaten by any of my other tracks. The latter part of the track flattens out, but its intro is enough to put it above some very good tracks.
In spot #3 is a track that has an obvious spelling mistake in the title, but nonetheless is my best Jungle-style track, which border-lines on Gabber at some points. It's up here because it's a great track and hasn't managed to grow old on me.
This was my favorite track of mine for many years, but the above three feel better made and have more lasting power. But that doesn't stop this one from blowing you away with its ultra progressive intro, synths and bassline. For those with good ears, you may notice some heavy inspiration from a popular mainstream trance track. This is part of the reason why this track isn't placed higher up in my list.
Trilogy feels like three tracks melded into one, and each one excels in its own style. Each part is solid, especially the third, which borrows from The Waving Air. I find it actually does a better job with the synth-line.
Xion is a great track that almost fell off the Best of TOT list, as it sometimes feels a little unpolished. However, it has some unforgettable progressions at the beginning and especially mid-way.
A funky trance track, simple yet surprisingly cool! In the style of "Infected Mushroom" (now in 320kbps!)
The prequel to Alien Distortion, true old school theory of trance! Play this entire track and mix/append/whatever Alien Distortion (mix2) at 0:27 offset. (now in 320kbps!)
The difference between mix3 and mix4 are mainly changes to the bassline. I found mix3 lacked bass, so I added some! You'll only start noticing it starting at 1:50:60 into the track. Enjoy! (now in 320kbps!)
Trance at its best!!! Beautiful melodies and excellent progression... typical theory of trance =) (now in 320kbps!)
A very cool track that blends Jungle and Gabber. I plan on extending this track a bit, as it is one of my most requested tracks (now in 320kbps!)
GET THIS SONG!! If you like anything hardcore at all, you're gonna love this tune! It was recently played on CIUT 89.5 FM for Die Maschine in Toronto, Canada (now in 320kbps!)
VERY strange 150 bpm track consisting of 3 parts. The first is sort of Happy Hardcore, the second is Hard Trance (Trancecore even), and the last is Techno. It's a very cool track, and at the same time, totally messed up! (now in 320kbps!)
Only 3:11, but absolutely jaw grinding awesome. This track is a remix of Krull the God of Azur, where the best parts were kept and turned into this friggin wicked track with a synth line that just chews, don't know how else to describe! (now in 320kbps!)
This track is simply amazing! It's a blend between Rabid Dreams and Remember, and it runs @ 152 bpm for 6:44 minutes (now in 320kbps!)
A wicked blend of Alien Distortion and Waving Air, but with character of its own... Though personally I don't like the latter part of the track. (now in 320kbps!)
For some reason this track makes me want to lie down and close my eyes, even though it's a VERY powerful track. This track has always been one of my more popular titles. (now in 320kbps!)
Wicked Super Mario Bros. gabber mix, best one I've ever heard, and I made it!! (now in 320kbps!)
Solid, chillin' trance track. This is damn good music (now in 320kbps!)
This is a cool track, very original. Doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard before. (now in 320kbps!)
2006-06-08 Not done yet, but close to it. I've worked on this quite a bit, though it's still not as good as what I used to pump out in about 1/10th of the time... Let me know if you like it! (now in 320kbps!)
This is one of my favorites so far. I'm not sure what to do with the end yet... not that I haven't tried stuff. It just sucked and I had to remove it time after time. I'm kind of out of practice at this point, but I'll get something kick-ass for this one yet!
...And just to show how long I've been at it, I remember trying to release this sucker for Halloween the year before... hence the name Halo
What I have for Halo as of July 2003. Not much has changed due to lack of inspiration!! Thanks for the email from Zeph, will be trying your ideas (now in 320kbps!)
Goa trance, pretty solid stuff (now in 320kbps!)
I found a bunch of new samples on the net (Oberheim 1000 and some Yamaha thing, lots of pads etc), and this is basically a compilation of most of these samples, with a mix of my old ones as well for good measure. This is looking to be a really promising track, although it's quite long even though it's not done!
Antiloop - Believe (Dub Version remix) — This is a coincidental remix of the Dub Version of Antiloop's Believe. My original riff sounded so much like it that I simply decided to call it a Believe remix and slapped on the "Believe" vocal =) (now in 320kbps!)
I took the Antiloop - In My Mind sample, put it in reverse and quickly came up with a track. Here's the result of a few hours work! (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
I finally decided to cut the crap and stop imitating Children in all my tracks. So I made my own mix of Children! It's a really simple and efficient track (and really old, too)
(~1997) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
This is a good track if you like dancing. The samples are VERY nice, stolen from a keyboard.
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
My friend Allan Ghosn's favorite from when we went to high school together. It's a really fast track and hardcore to the max, totally disorganized with crazy shit happening left and right (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Super old track that my younger brother thought was the best. It completely destroys any software player that tries to interpret the Impulse Tracker source... I use some retarded samples in there, like a text file for one... Anyway, this one is definitely a classic that makes you want to kill everything in sight REALLY fast (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Surprisingly good quality, a little disorganized, but it stands out.
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Barely fitting into the Completed category, this one is cool flowing trance. It's really good but isn't very special, which is why it was never fully released. (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Holy shit this is so funny... but REALLY catchy! I AM, I AM ELECTRIC MAN!!!
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
This used to sound awesome when I was younger... It's still neat to listen to!
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Written at the same time as 'this song is screwed up'. You'll notice the same samples being used but in a slightly lighter and more organized fashion. Good track!!
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
I wrote this initially on the guitar, and then moved it over to Impulse Tracker to add some strings etc. I wrote this specifically for Tribes RPG, for the main town you start playing in (Keldrin Town) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Oh man this is classic... Listen to this track, you'll want to laugh so bad.. but you won't be able to because you'll be dancing the Salsa all night long.
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
Although this track is very old, it's still quite good. Kinda soothing too. I remember I put a lot of work and effort into this one back in the day
(~1997) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
If you think this sounds like Children, you're wrong.
Part of the Innertube series (1998) (now in 320kbps!)
This is the coolest track EVER. It started it all. For me at least... Hey Brent Giroux, if you ever visit this site, thanks a million for making me realize that the music I was writing was actually good! For those who have no idea, this track is extremely old and was written back in my high school days. It's the first track I put on tape and brought to school for others to listen to. People had a hard time believing I wrote it, which was the best part :-)
(~1996) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
This is a cool track that features a classic Star Trek tune. The track itself is kinda shabby, but sometimes it sounds pretty good.
(~2000) (now in 320kbps!)
I have ALWAYS loved this track. It's not typical mainstream trance or anything, but it's got a lot of goodness in it. I feel like if it were better quality in terms of samples, it would be up there with Alien Distortion (mix2) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Ok. I have no idea. Sounds like some kind of crazy monkey movie set in a pink and blue jungle where all the animals dance on branches and Mowgli somehow controls all the animals by playing this track (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
What was I thinking with that guitar... Oh well it's not a bad listen (now in 320kbps!)
Good house track with cool breaks. Needs work though... (now in 320kbps!)
remastered! this is a fast (155bpm) acid track that makes use of d-lusion's Rubberduck (now in 320kbps!)
Similarly to Trilogy, Descent is a combination of tracks, where the first could be labeled as an intro. The second part of this track was inspired by both The Waving Air and the third part of Trilogy. This is an awesome track, enjoy! (now in 320kbps!)
Trip-hop track (with a few trance elements) with samples from "Histoire Sans Paroles" of "Harmonium", a 70's band from Quebec. My parents introduced me to this band when I was very young (specifically the album "Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison") and it has had an enormous influence on my writing style. I recommend "Dixie", an absolutely perfect song, and of course "Histoire Sans Paroles". (320kbps)
This track really has a style of its own. It's a very dark and angry track, and it totally kicks ass when played loud =) (now in 320kbps!)
Minor remix that loops (now in 320kbps!)
This track is the story of Krull and his adventures in conquering the world. He travels in his ship for many months and battles fierce enemies on land and water. In his sleep, his many foes haunt his dreams and leave him restless for a total of 9 minutes and 35 seconds... (It's also really good trance!) (now in 320kbps!)
Tasty house track, makes me want to mix it with oranges (now in 320kbps!)
Good track, but the end part is WAY better than the rest of the track. I plan on cutting the last part out and making a new track for it. (now in 320kbps!)
older crap (catchy track, primarily uses d-lusion's Rubberduck) (now in 320kbps!)
Good track, linear but exciting (now in 320kbps!)
Excellent track, was once featured on mp3.com for trance back in the day when that site wasn't corrupt (now in 320kbps!)
This track is based on the original Xion, and everyone so far has said this one is better. But over time I've become such a big fan of the original Xion that I'm not sure if they're correct! I'll let you judge for yourselves (now in 320kbps!)
Really powerful progressive trance (now in 320kbps!)
older crap, ninjas fighting in the sky etc (now in 320kbps!)
Song title really fits this one (now in 320kbps!)
Dark & Noisy Jungle, very cool track running @ 180 bpm (now in 320kbps!)
I once again gave this track a make-over... The beginning is alot more trancey, and the ending is still the same (very goa). I'm finally satisfied with it, so this means it's a really good track!! =D (now in 320kbps!)
(later note: I really don't like the beginning of this track compared to the original... unfortunately it is lost forever!! Except for this rare mp3 version! (See somewhere on this page))
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Super weird stuff, it's really old (I wrote this when the game Gore was in development stages and were asking United Trackers to get people to make music for their game) (now in 320kbps!)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Very fast jungle with some WILD drumming near the beginning.
Part of the KROOD series (1998)
Another really cool dark trance track that I should have finished, but I may have lost the source file for it.
This particular version is lower pitched.
Another really cool dark trance track that I should have finished, but I may have lost the source file for it.
This particular version is higher pitched.
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Back from the Innertube days, this one never made the cut (as many shouldn't have)... but it's hilariously entertaining
I perhaps should have finished this one. It's really strong dark trance with character.
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Very neat style that's nothing like what I usually write... I think I just happened to come across a certain type of samples, then wrote this.
Part of the KROOD series (1998)
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Crazy jungle stuff, not bad for older stuff.
Part of the KROOD series (1998)
Just the fact that it's called mat36.s3m (note the S3M extension) should reveal how OLD this track is. It is the actual 36th track that I've ever written (I've written nearly a thousand (more like 500)...some good, most not good). This is actually a really good track, and I have no idea how I wrote something like this way back then.
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
This is pretty old (anything with Mat at the beginning is OOOOLD, as in you've never heard it before unless you went to my high school). This one really stands out from all the other stuff I wrote back then (which all sounded like Children by Robert Miles). This one still sounds like Children, but it's good
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Neat heavy beats, but with muddee (from Rubberduck H3O+) mixed in. Reminds me of some kind of movie scene where the hero walks around and there's only music playing.
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Coolness... Dark and heavy trance that makes you want to fight ninjas in space
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
The original 'Northern Lights' (original to me... whatever that might mean). The track itself is pretty good, execution isn't as good
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
An attempt to remix 'Northern Lights' the first. Good quality stuff, I like it!
Never had the heart to finish this one...
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Old enough track, not as old as mat36 mind you... but it's really good apart from the samples sounding off sometimes
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
This one sounds kinda gay at first, but the beat that kicks in is really solid, and later on in the track you may notice my visit from the future as I incorporated the Waving Air's main sample
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Heavy beats, not really trance... More like Prodigy or something. It's really not that bad, has some memorable stuff in there
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Euro dance crap? Dance around you crazy fools, ya ya boca caca
Really chillin' tune with funky little beats that progresses into some heavier trance
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Early 'Night Light' version that may be slightly different from the newest version.
This one is so cool... Really cool Star Trek clip at the beginning, followed by some really solid beats
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Very brief intro that never inspired me enough, but as I listen to it now, it could do some damage in a dark trance track if fixed up properly
Really chillin' tune that soon changes over to mellow trance
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Strings sound crappy at the beginning, but near the end everything sounds good together
**** WARNING: PREVIOUSLY NEVER RELEASED... FOR A REASON!! ****
Hard-core jungle-gabber, crazy
This track is awesome... WAY better intro than the final version (this is the long lost version)