Hardcore
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Hardcore is extreme rave music built around very fast tempos, distorted kick drums, aggressive synths, shout samples, and endurance-based release. In electronic dance contexts it usually means hardcore techno and its descendants rather than punk. It can be Dutch, Italian, German, UK, industrial, melodic, or brutally minimal, but intensity is the constant.
History
Hardcore grew from Belgian new beat, rave, techno, breakbeat hardcore, Frankfurt and Rotterdam scenes, and the desire to push rave faster and harder. Marc Acardipane, DJ Paul Elstak, Neophyte, The Prophet, Rotterdam Terror Corps, The Stunned Guys, Ruffneck, Lenny Dee, DJ Promo, Angerfist, Nosferatu, Korsakoff, Evil Activities, and Tha Playah all shaped the canon. Festivals such as Thunderdome, Masters of Hardcore, Dominator, and Defqon.1 kept hardcore evolving.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- We Have Arrived(1990) — Marc AcardipaneSpotifyYouTube
- Rainbow in the Sky(1995) — DJ Paul ElstakSpotifyYouTube
- Braincracking(1993) — NeophyteSpotifyYouTube
- Big Boys Don't Cry(1993) — The ProphetSpotifyYouTube
- No Happy Shit(1993) — Rotterdam Terror CorpsSpotifyYouTube
- Thrillseeka(1996) — The Stunned GuysSpotifyYouTube
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- Ruffneck Rules Da Artcore Scene!!!(1993) — RuffneckSpotifyYouTube
- Forgotten Moments — Lenny DeeSpotifyYouTube
- Vicious Circle — DJ PromoSpotifyYouTube
- Raise Your Fist(2006) — AngerfistSpotifyYouTube
- Unleash the Beast(2004) — KorsakoffSpotifyYouTube
- Nobody Said It Was Easy(2008) — Evil ActivitiesSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Resident Advisor Thunderdome history
- The Guardian Thunderdome feature
- Masters of Hardcore histories
- Discogs release listings