The Sickest Squad

The Sickest Squad

The Sickest Squad is an Italian hardcore and frenchcore group made up of Frenchcore Familia, Samuele Gozzo and Jacopo Stevanato. The act starts as the Sick DJ Team in 2000, after Xtr and Tnd work together for a year. Their first appearance together takes place at Tnd’s pub, Eretika.

Early development

At first, the team plays a wide range of styles, including techno, hardcore, industrial and breakcore. Sirio also runs the website Industrial-gabber.com, which helps promote some of their tracks, and later joins the project as a full member. Under the Sick DJ Team name, the group releases its first EP, SICK 001, which contains six tracks including “Inspector Fucker”.

Releases and labels

The group first aims to self-release the EP, but then takes the project to Traxtorm Records. After a meeting at Traxtorm, “Inspector Fucker” is released on G-net Records. Their early work also appears on the compilation Traxtorm Power 2003, and later on Thunderscream Compilation. They continue to develop their sound through several labels and projects, including releases on Temple of Terror 2005, 909% Black Label, Strike Records and Industrial Strength.

Move into frenchcore

After working through several styles, the group focuses on frenchcore. Their first release in this direction is “She’s a fucking cocksucker”, which appears on Temple of Terror 2005. With this change of style, the Sick DJ Team becomes The Sickest Squad. In 2005, they contact Radium, who releases The Sickest EP on September. They also work with Frazzbass on “Noistorm 001 – Nobody escape” and “Shit and noiz art 009 – kill your brain”.

Later projects and collaborations

The group releases “Obbligo o verità” on 909% Black Label, described in the text as the first Italian vinyl on the label, and follows it with “il clitoride” in 2006. Sirio leaves the squad after this project. The act later issues a limited 7-inch with two tracks over 200 bpm on Strike Records. In 2007, their live performances increase across Europe and their discography expands further. That year also brings a collaboration with Randy, Speedfreak and Frazzbass on a version that appears on Thunderdome 2007 Compilation.

Work with Lenny Dee and side projects

In 2007 the group meets Lenny Dee and begins several collaborations with him, including “LENNY DEE, RANDY & THE SICKEST SQUAD - Boomshakalaka”. Lenny Dee then suggests the project Teckno Killers, which includes him, the Sickest Squad and Randy. The group also starts the project NEO GENESI, and uses the Sick DJ Team alias again for “SICK DJ TEAM - YOUTHANASIA” on Industrial Strength. Their output at this point spans techno, hardcore and frenchcore.