Hardcore techno

Hardcore is a style of electronic music that originated in the early-to-mid-1990s in multiple locations including the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the UK. The style is typified by a fast tempo^[1], and the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples.

Production techniques

Hardcore is usually composed using music sequencers, and many earlier tracks were produced on home computers with module tracker software. Some examples of the software used are Fruity Loops Studio, Ableton Live, Cubase, Logic, Nuendo and Reason. The wide availability of computers, combined with the absence of financial remuneration, means that many hardcore musicians write for their own enjoyment and the pleasure of innovation.^{[citation needed]}

Styles of hardcore^[2]

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

Hardcore has also spawned several subgenres and derivative styles including:

• New Beat - Unlike most of its hardcore brethren this music is generally slow (tracks range from 80 bpm to 120 bpm). This made the music sound harder and more sinister, essentially influencing electronic hardcore.
• Old-Skool aka Breakbeat hardcore - This retrospective 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, breakbeats, plenty of female vocals and classic "rave" sounds are some of the defining characteristics of this subgenre.
• Happy hardcore is a form of dance music known for its very quick tempo (usually around 165-180 bpm), often coupled with male or female vocals and sentimental lyrics. Popular in the UK, Australia and Spain, amongst other countries. Generally has a large cult following known as "Candy ravers".
• Makina - Fast electronic dance music from Spain, fairly similar to happy hardcore.
• UK hardcore - Modern form of happy hardcore, less childish feel with supersaw leads.
• Freeform hardcore - Hardcore with strong influence of trance, mainly instrumental.
• Hardcore Breaks - Written in the style of old-skool rave music or breakbeat hardcore using modern technology and production techniques.
• Gabber - Most popular in The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Belgium, characterized by heavy bass drum sound, usually created with distortion, generally 150-220 bpm.
• Doomcore aka Darkcore - Downtempo, characterized by reverb on detuned semi-distorted kicks on eerie synth pads.
• Noisecore aka Industrial hardcore - Hardcore influenced by industrial music, characterized by harsh beats.
• Digital Hardcore - Hardcore Punk influenced Hardcore and Breakcore.
• Breakcore - Uses distorted, fragmented breakbeats and sampling to create a hectic effect.
• Speedcore - With tracks that can range from 250 bpm up to 15000 bpm, often featuring heavy distortion. Not to be confused with Thrashcore or Speed metal. Also named splittercore, when the tempo is around 700 bpm, and extratone, when the tempo exceeds 1000 bpm.
• Terrorcore - refers to more extreme version of 'regular gabber', with a highly aggressive theme, modern tracks using same bass drum sound as nu-style gabber.
• Frenchcore - Originated in the French rave scene of the early 90's. Frenchcore achieved wider recognition in 1998 with the release of Micropoint's first album Neurophonie.
• J-Core - Originated in the mid/late 90's in Japan. Very influenced by Otaku culture and contains many anime samples in songs. Speed is often in excess of 160-180 BPM.

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, the Tokyo sound, etc.

Notable producers

See also

• Digital hardcore
• Four to the floor
• Gabber
• Hard dance
• List of electronic music genres

References