Darkstep
tagStarted late 1990sPeak 1999–2007Last big hit early 2010s
Darkstep is the horror wing of DnB: pummeling breaks, sinister atmospheres, distorted bass, and sampled dread everywhere you look. It is heavier and more violent-seeming than techstep, with a maximal affection for menace.
History
The style rose as the darker edges of techstep were pushed toward full-on nightmare sound design. Technical Itch, Dylan, Limewax, Dom & Roland, Current Value, and associates made it a defining underground lane for listeners who found ordinary darkness a little undercommitted.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Insomniac’s DnB subgenre guide
- Beatport’s DnB history.