Hardcore techno

For the use of 'hardcore' in relation to other music genres, see hardcore music.

Hardcore Techno, often referred to as hardcore (not to be confused with hardcore emo or punk, which is sometimes in the USA and Russia just called 'hardcore'), and known as "hardcore" to people in The Netherlands, is a style of techno music that originated in the early-to-mid-1990s in multiple locations including Rotterdam, New York City and Nercastle, Australia. The style is typified by a fast tempo (160-300 beats per minute and up) and the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples.

History

Mescalinum United's "We Have Arrived" (1990) is considered by many to be one of the first hardcore techno tracks.

Production techniques

Hardcore techno is usually composed using music sequencers, and many earlier tracks were produced on home computers with module tracker software. The wide availability of computers, combined with the absence of financial remuneration, means that many hardcore techno musicians write for their own enjoyment and the pleasure of innovation.

Styles of hardcore techno

As Hardcore continues to grow each different type of hardcore (each subgenre) begins to attract a larger fanbase and more support from producers. As new sub-genres grow they can become extremely different than other subgenres that are also referred to as Hardcore.

Hardcore techno has also spawned several subgenres and derivative styles including:

• Old Skool - This term is usually reserved for tracks produced in the early 90's, a large period of growth for Hardcore. Lots of piano rolls, bouncy basslines and breakbeats and plenty of cheesy female vocals and classic "rave" sounds.
• Breakcore - Combines hardcore with elements of breakbeat and glitch music. Often played at extremely high tempo.
• Freeform - Not so much an offshoot of Hardcore as much as an intersection of multiple genres of electronic music. Freeform is most frequently called hardcore due to its similarities in tempo and rhythm but it also has elements that show influences from other genres such as acid house and drum and bass.
• Frenchcore - fast hardcore style oscilating between 180-250 bpm with characteristic bassdrum. Came to hardcore scene from freetek parties in France where had been played with tekno and hardtek.
• Gabber - Most popular in The Netherlands and Japan, 150+ bpm.
• Happy Hardcore is probably the best known, and best selling variant. Happy hardcore focuses on being positive and high energy.
• New Style Hardcore - Also referred to as "Nu Style Hardcore"A somewhat slower variant of hardcore techno.
• Noisecore - Very noisy hardcore. This style is related to Speedcore and Terrorcore.
• Schranz - A style based around massively bass-heavy kick drums, driving percussion and distorted, looping synth noises.
• Speedcore - With tracks can range from 250 bpm all the way up to 1000 bpm.
• Terrorcore - Terror from Holland which employs the use of 'scary' or 'evil' sounding samples and sounds to give the tunes a frantic "terror" feel. Popularized in Rotterdam, Holland in the mid to late 1990's.
• Trancecore - A style of hardcore based on speeding up Trance music. The first Trancecore tracks to be produced were literally timestretched trance songs. Later tracks have produced by utilizing riffs, melodies and other elements taken from trance with the bassline and high tempo of hardcore.

The Hardcore community is close-knit and there are many names and definitions that are used differently in different areas. Often certain substyles of hardcore are classified by the city or country in which they are produced, such as the Frankfurt sound, the French sound, etc.

Notable producers

Notable record labels

Categories

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