From Industrial Goths to Doomcore Techno: Tracing a Dark Bloodline

I always like to say that Doomcore actually predates the advent of Hardcore, even that of Techno. A tongue-in-cheek statement, of course, but with more than one grain of truth.

The reality is that the types of synths, sounds, melodies, chords, arpeggios that are used in Doomcore tracks had been around in the 80s already.
Electronic music and electronic experiments where vast in that decade; and while you had euphoric poppy Cindy Laupers and Limahls on one side, darkness ruled in the valleys that led into the underground.
There were "scenes" such as post-punk, goths, industrial, ebm, minimal-wave that often bled into each (yeah and a lot of these "terms" came only in major use after the 80s had long ended). It is astonishing to me how similar some of these synth-tracks were to what we call Doomcore now. All they would have needed was a straight 909 and some percussion.

Was this a case of "parallel evolution" (if somewhat time-shifted) or is this really the root and origin of Doomcore?

Well, there are at least a lot of artists that claim this earlier sound as a source of inspiration - including The Horrorist, Marc Acardipane, Current 909 (many non-doom producers as well - such as The Speed Freak, Xol Dog 400, Taciturne)... so there definitely is a thread there... a dark and blood-stained thread.

But regardless. The "Electronic Doom Music" of the 80s is able to stand on its own as well, with its powerful, punishing beats and haunting, tenebrous sentiments.

So let's look at 10 tracks from this occulted realm now:

#1. Anne Clark - Contact

#2. Nightmoves - Transdance (Uk Club Mix)

#3. The Actor - Le Champ D'Honneur

#4. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - I Betray My Friends

#5. John Foxx - The Garden

#6. Nocturnal Emissions - In Our Time

#7. The Cure - One Hundred Years (Studio Demo)

#8. New Order - Doubts Even Here

#9. Oppenheimer Analysis - Scorpions

#10. The Vyllies - Whispers In The Shadow