Hardcore

Putting The Science Into Music

Hardcore Rave developed in Britain and continental Europe during the early 1990s from Acid House, Techno, Breakbeat and the expanding warehouse and free-party scene. Producers pushed the tempo up, intensified the drums and used sampled vocals, piano riffs, sirens and heavy bass to build music for large raves.

In Britain, Breakbeat Hardcore became one of the most important early forms, combining four-to-the-floor kick drums with chopped funk breaks, hip hop samples and influences from reggae and sound-system culture. Labels including Suburban Base, Moving Shadow and Production House spread the sound through vinyl, pirate radio and large rave events.

Artists such as The Prodigy, SL2, Acen, Altern-8, The House Crew, Shades of Rhythm and 2 Bad Mice brought different versions of Hardcore Rave to wider audiences. Their records often balanced euphoric melodies and vocal samples against fast breakbeats, deep bass and abrupt changes in arrangement.

As producers pushed the breakbeats further, a darker and more rhythmically complex form began to emerge. Faster chopped drums, deeper sub-bass, reggae samples and fewer piano-led sections helped create early Jungle during 1992 and 1993.

Early Jungle developed directly out of the Breakbeat Hardcore scene, rather than appearing as a wholly separate movement. Producers, DJs, labels, pirate stations and rave audiences carried the music forward as its breakbeats grew more intricate and its sound-system influences deepened.

By the mid-1990s, Drum and Bass became a widely used name for music placing greater emphasis on detailed percussion, electronic bass and studio production. Jungle kept its own identity, while Drum and Bass expanded into styles including atmospheric, techstep, jump-up, liquid funk and neurofunk.

Hardcore Rave commonly features rapid tempos, sampled breakbeats, powerful basslines and highly energetic arrangements. The category can include early Breakbeat Hardcore, Old Skool Rave, piano-led anthems and transitional tracks that led directly into early Jungle and Drum and Bass.

At Scientific Sound Asia, hardcore is a defining feature of two shows: Ministry Of Breaks and Global Bass.