Some Trance records explode on release day. Others need time to find the dance floors they were made for. Nemke’s “Stampedo” belongs firmly in the second category: a dark, driving and intensely melodic 138 BPM Main-Floor Trance weapon that quietly arrived on Monster Force in April 2025 before growing into one of the scene’s most remarkable sleeper hits.
Released digitally on April 25, 2025, “Stampedo” initially passed under the radar of much of the wider Trance audience. What happened afterwards is what makes this record special: months after release, Tiësto, Markus Schulz and Paul van Dyk began supporting it, transforming an overlooked single into a genuine international festival record.
A Trance weapon built on tension and release
“Stampedo” wastes little energy on unnecessary decoration. Its strength lies in the way Nemke combines a muscular, relentlessly driving foundation with a melodic identity strong enough to cut straight through the production.
At 138 BPM, the track has all the physical force expected from modern peak-time Trance, but it never turns into an anonymous wall of kick and bass. There is emotion beneath the pressure. The central melodic idea gives the record its character, gradually increasing the tension before the track opens into a massive main-floor payoff.
That contrast is crucial. “Stampedo” can sound dark and raw one moment, then unexpectedly euphoric the next. It is aggressive without becoming abrasive and melodic without becoming overly sentimental.
The result is precisely the kind of instrumental Trance record that becomes bigger when heard on a festival system.
Melodic, emotional and raw
Nemke — real name Nemanja Matovic — has described his own sound in three words: “melodic, emotional and raw.” He has also explained that his productions normally begin with a melody before everything else is built around it. Those ideas are easy to recognise in “Stampedo.”
Growing up in Pljevlja, Montenegro, Nemke cites the Gaia sound of Armin van Buuren and Benno de Goeij among his early inspirations. Yet “Stampedo” does not sound like an exercise in recreating classic Trance. Its production is considerably tougher and more contemporary, giving the melodic foundations a modern main-floor frame.
That combination may also explain why the track has crossed stylistic boundaries so effectively. It makes sense in a traditional Trance set, but its darker pulse and physical production can equally connect with the more techno-influenced end of today’s main-floor spectrum.
The sleeper hit that refused to stay hidden
The story behind “Stampedo” is almost as compelling as the record itself.
Nemke has said that the major DJ support arrived months after the original release — after ten years of producing music without previously experiencing that kind of breakthrough. Then suddenly “Stampedo” began appearing in the sets of Tiësto, Paul van Dyk and Markus Schulz.
Tiësto played the Extended Mix during his much-discussed Trance set at Dreamstate SoCal 2025. Markus Schulz went even further, repeatedly championing the track and later describing Nemke as one of the most exciting breakthrough talents in Trance over the previous twelve months.
That support ultimately helped open another chapter for Nemke. Markus personally approached him regarding “Earthquake”, leading to Nemke’s Coldharbour Recordings debut in April 2026. “Stampedo” had effectively become the breakthrough record that changed the trajectory of his career.
From Monster Force to In Search Of Sunrise
The track’s remarkable second life continued in 2026. Markus Schulz selected “Stampedo” for In Search Of Sunrise 22, placing it deep inside Mix 02 alongside names including HI-LO, Kyau & Albert, First State, The Quest and Stoneface & Terminal.
For a track originally released more than a year earlier, that inclusion says plenty. “Stampedo” did not simply enjoy a brief wave of DJ support. It endured.
And perhaps that is why reviewing it now actually makes more sense than reviewing it in April 2025. Only with hindsight is the complete story visible: an independent breakthrough, major festival support, a new relationship with Coldharbour and a place on one of Trance music’s most established compilation series.
TranceAttack verdict
Sometimes the best records are the ones you nearly miss.
“Stampedo” could easily have remained another strong release buried in the sheer volume of new Trance arriving every week. Instead, DJs discovered it, crowds reacted to it and the record kept growing until ignoring it was no longer an option.
What makes that story satisfying is that the hype is justified.
Nemke delivers a track with enormous physical impact while retaining the melodic and emotional DNA that separates great Trance from generic peak-time machinery. The drop is huge, the central theme sticks immediately and the production has enough darkness and restraint to remain effective far beyond a single festival season.
More than a year after its original release, “Stampedo” sounds less like an overlooked 2025 track and more like the moment a new Trance artist properly announced himself.
⭐️ Rating: 9.5 / 10
🎧 Perfect for:
- Peak-time Trance sets
- Festival moments
- Dark main-floor transitions
- High-energy workouts
- Late-night drives
Release details:
Artist: Nemke
Track: Stampedo
Style: Tech Trance / Acid Trance
BPM: 138
Label: Monster Force
Release Date: April 25th, 2025
Get your copy here: https://monstertunes.lnk.to/Nemke
Connect with Nemke:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nemke_music
Connect with Monster Force:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monstertunes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monster_tunes
X: https://www.twitter.com/monstertunes
