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Friday, August 23, 2024

The world beyond 300 BPM: The fastest Techno tracks of the 90s and the origins of Ultra-Speedcore

After the advent of Hardcore at the start of the 90s, the bassdrums become more distorted, and the bpms began to rise. But, at first, only slowly (how paradox!). It seems producers were still too much tied to techno conventions, and especially club and dancefloor conventions, than to go all-in right away, and aim for 400, 500, or 1000 bpm from the start.

Thus, we are looking a bit at the evolution and development of Speedcore in the 90s - by choosing 10 of the fastest tracks of this decade.

1. Moby - Thousand (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNQDCcqQu2Q


The proto-type ultra-speedcore track. one thousand bpm!
Yes, it's by the same moby who did "why does my heart feel so bad?" - and other heart-throb techno-pop songs.

2. Lory D - Lochnar (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ogKTV2KZs


"The sound of Rome" was always harder then the rest - at least in the early 90s.
This is a good example. After a wicked beginning, the track goes into several hundred bpm in the end.

3. PCP - We Are From Frankfurt (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hyD94mwe50


Marc Acardipane's take on the earlier mentioned moby concept?
No, no, it's definitely in a league of it's own. Starts hardcore and mentasm fueled, then speeds up into oblivion.

4. Sorcerer - Summer (1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrJi_2Ctzp4


"And now... release your anger!"
But do it fast, because this is a true proto-speedcore classic that even found it's way onto a Thunderdome edition. Full of tempo changes, deranged noises, pitched up oldschool sounds... it's destined to shred your mind.

6. De Klootzakken - Dominee Dimitri (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNfZZ3ks1Sw


Oh yes, I mean, oh no, I mean, I don't know. Sorta a follow up to "Alles nasr de klote", this is one the most absurd and psychopath tracks ever. Both at the same time. And we mean that in the most positive of ways.

5. Influid - The Destroyer (1.2 Million BPM Mix) (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_28IyDXZtsM


Influid was more of a (hard-) trancy project, actually by some well known producers of the scene (remember "Outface"?)
Still, this is an early hyper-speed outing, proclaiming over a million bpm.
Not entirely sure if that's true. But after it's ambient-ish beginning, it surely gets frigging fast!

7. Seveso - Abc Alarm (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuJ_5jk8Y7E


You might know this one from the 'Braindead" compilations. Released on one of The Speedfreak's labels, this is among the most mind-fuck, dirty-distorted, and yes, fastest tracks of the era.

8. Berzerker - Evil Worlds Beyond (1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U3au_gTLxs



Speedcore Records was a label solely for eponymous, but the 12" with this track on it even topped all of the earlier stuff. A fusion of death metal and speedcore, this one tears at hundreds of bpm. "Metal-style" tempo changes included.
The other tracks on this 12" are in high-speed-territory, too!

9. Rage Reset - Terminated (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvvxqzpqKOI


The Aussie-German brothers behind the Rage Reset / Static Tremor projects were always a step ahead of the competition, and this track is ample proof of that.
Starts acidish with a long intro, then goes into brutal blastcore.

10. Low Entropy - Adrenaline Junkie (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFe66oUEH94


Not a "starts slow and is only fast for a short time" track for once. This one is 800 bpm terror through and through, and even has a 1600 bpm moment at the end.
Put on vinyl in 1998, this is definitely one of the earliest all-out ultra-speedcore tracks.

Further suggestions:

Leathernecks - C'mon Scum
Mescalinum United - Symphonies Of Steel Part 3 (Live in Brixton)
Tilt! - Hell-E-Copter
Alec Empire - I Don't Care What Happens
DJ Skinhead - Extreme Terror (Strength Of Terror)
Chosen Few - Hellfire
Hocus Pocus - Hocus Pocus (Bow Chi Bow)
Ilsa Gold - 4 Blond Nuns (Chicago Rmx)
Quindoor - Full Energy Flash
Fucking Hostile - Fucking Hostile (6th City Mob Mix)
French Connection - Fuck You All
Bold Bob - Bold Bass 2


Do you know other boundary-breaking Speedcore tracks of the 90s?
Let us know in the comments!

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