It's widely established that acid house gave rise to the techno explosion of the 90s, and all that followed - trance, breakbeat, gabber, jungle.... Yet, acid never really went away. Acid or Acid Techno were major subgenres of the whole techno thing throughout the 90s and had their loyal fanbase and dedicated "floors" on parties and raves.
It's interesting to see that there was always a crossover between acid and hardcore; acid gave rise to a lot of the first really rough techno tracks; many hardcore producers did acid on the side or vice versa. This was especially the case in Germany with mono tone records, the "hard noize from cologne" thing, Hamburg, Berlin, overdrive, and so on. but even a lot of the early "Dutch Gabber" releases are close to acid.
and when "the man" tried to get all traces of rebellion, rough- and dirtiness out of "techno" - the meager decades of minimalist techno or retro-disco influenced house - acid parties were often the only place where you could still get a grip on a good, distorted 909.
Thus, there is acid - there is harder acid - there is hardcore acidcore even (we talked about that in the past).
But, some of the artists within the acid / acidcore circus really took it to the extreme. there is little trace left of the funky acid house boom from the 80s in their productions. the drums get distorted to mere squarewaves - the 303s get manipulated until they sound closer to an exploding jet engine; the percussion and cymbals become walls of noise; and often an insane amount of reverberation "drowns" the whole track until you wonder whether this is still a techno production, or a secret supergroup composed of members of einstürzende neubauten, ken kesey, and albert hofmann.
now, let me not waste any more words. check these tunes yourself. and heed our disclaimer: these sounds might corrode your mind.
1. Agro - Bullen Raus
2. Agro - Undisputed Truth
3. Brandon Spivey - Acid 1998
4. Brandon Spivey - Reality Asylum
5. Tank Source - Freq. Out
6. Distorted Waves Of Ohm - Beneath The Subconcious Lies A Distorted Mind
What's the most aggressive type of music? I think noizecore techno is a contender, or some of the more deranged forms of acidcore. Yet there is another genre on the block that is definitely deserving of this title. A fusion of Black Metal and Extreme Techno, that runs by the term Industrial Black Metal or Blackened Speedcore.
Let's rewind a bit. Even the first outings of Hardcore Techno and Gabber House were eager to sample guitar riffs out of Metal songs - usually the thrash or speed metal variety of the 80s. When Speedcore emerged, these samples became an obligation. And soon, a fusion of Death Metal and Speedcore spawned, exemplified by bands like The Berzerker (which actually started as a solo Gabber / Speedcore producer project before they got signed to Earache).
In the world of metal, there were experiments with Techno drums and rhythm, too, usually filed under the "industrial metal" folder. And, of course, the first sightings of "Industrial Black Metal" were seen, but not quite as brutal yet.
In recent years, this evolution shifted around. Death Metal - Gabber fusions have become more rare. Instead, Hardcore producers have begun to fully embrace Black Metal - and Black Metal bands have begun to experiment with Hardcore, Gabber and Speedcore.
While the former often use the term "Blackened Speedcore" for their music, the latter usually run under "Industrial Black Metal". But sound-wise, these terms are more or less interchangeable.
This new genre is much more varied than the former "Deathcore" variety. We find bands that have the usual tinny, lofi sound quality of Black Metal - like it's recorded on a tape recorder in a band member's basement. or bands blasting away with huge production values and heavy basses. we got simplistic monotonous audio nasties. or complex, symphonic compositions. some add intricate synth and ambient parts to their songs / track. some screech, some growl, some keep silent. some sound like british prog rock on acid.
so, there is a lot to discover here!
similar to other subgenres of hardcore techno (and black metal), this strain remained niche and quite unknown to the masses. yet its producers, fans and supporters are dedicated to it none the less, and there is a steady flow of releases.
the themes, lyrics and titles are amongst the most nihilist, sickened and disturbing in the contemporary world of music. indeed, there are even some bands leaning towards nazi ideology - maybe for "shock effect", maybe for real - so its better to stay clear of these.
but, apart from these - it's all a truly ecstatic and wholly infernal experience, soothing and nurturing our dark minds and souls.
let's look at 10 tracks of the industrial black metal and blackened speedcore kind:
For this book, the author listed, rated, and short-reviewed all releases of all records published by PCP and their various sub-labels. This is interesting enough already - but now, that this "database of reviews" exists, it could also be interesting to look at it and ponder the question: which are the best-rated pcp releases?
This is of course, highly highly subjective, and we make no pretense to be correct in our very personal taste. *But* this listing could be boonful in the following regard: It does not look at the most popular or best known tracks for once, but at all releases on all labels equally. So for the future pcp explorer, this is a chance to learn about some very well-hidden gems in the vast back-catalogue of this label family.
But now, without further ado, let's go ahead!
Releases rated 100 out of 100 (perfect!)
PCP 961 - The Mover – Signs Of '96
The signs Of 96! Isn't this the most legendary Mover release ever? While most people go for "Over Land & Sea", I think the flip side, "Underwater Operations", is even a bit better. But, let's face it, both tracks blow all the competition out of the water (pun intended).
The Mover - Over Land & Sea
Kotz 7 - Stickhead & Don Demon - Once Upon A Time In Frankfurt
Another legendary release. Some of the most intricate, serpentine, monumental compositions in hardcore - with very high "production values". Should be the right thing for any terror-head's frightened heart.
DE 2057 E Man - XTC Express
should be in everyone's top ten of miro's (or pcp's) releases. going strong with the arpeggio-type tunes again, this composition almost reminds me a video game soundtrack gone dark. but the thundering drums make it clear you that you are at a rave. both mixes are great. i can't applaud this release enough.
DE 2007 - 303 Nation - 6 Tracker
This is it! The holy grail of techno music. Right here. Technically, it's an acid record - but the sounds are much more than that. With minimal instrumentation, the 303 nation manages to generate an ultra-immersive environment reminiscent of outer space colonies. I never heard something like that before, and I never heard it again.
303 Nation - Seis
Releases rated 99 out of 100 (near perfect!)
PCP 005 - The Mover – Frontal Sickness Part 1
Do I need to review this? One of the important releases of Techno ever, and if you have not dived into it yet, go for it! This is the very beginning of Doomcore. Hard hitting Techno beats and an almost minimalist use of some of the darkest synth lines you ever heard.
DE 2053 Evidence – Resist / Inspirit
this is actually miro again, using a new aka. and, in my opinion, "inspirit" has one of his best-composed melodies. apart from that, this release is a bit more on the "hardcore" side than the previous release (i.e. purple moon).
PCP 932 - The Mover – The Final Sickness
One of the most sought-after releases - at least until it's digital re-release. An album that could be seen as a follow-up to the "frontal sickness" releases (and a precursor to "frontal frustration"). It features Marc's The Mover aka at its hardest and dirtiest; Distorted drums, howling synth, shrieking percussion and noises; An onslaught of sounds, dismal and tenebrous.
The Mover - Changing Platforms
DE 2052 Miro – Purple Moon
one of the best releases, on all of pcp, ever. period. lifting off from the "blue sun", purple moon is driven by an almost hard-trancy, but much darker, arpeggiated melody and oldschool drumming. "understand" twists this pattern around a bit. a true miro classic.
Zone 1 - FFM Shadow Orchestra - D.N. Acid
Words fail me to describe this record. The chanting goes
"from here to there, from star to star, from atom to atom, i'm surfing..."
And i think that puts across the sentiment of this record very well. But if we were to use more technical terms, it's the trademark ffm shadow orchestra style blend of techno, doomcore, and hardcore. And one beatless dark ambient that is described as being the ritualized "terminator of death".
DE 2038 Inferno Bros. – Slaves To The Rave (The PCP & DE 2001 Mixes)
Ah, yes, now we can play! This is one of marc's most massive tracks ever. Intro, "female" vocals, hoovers, sub-bass, breakdowns, football stadium suitable chanting... one of the most technically complex and perfect "hardcore" productions of the 90s. The de 2001 mix induces an energetic rush with it's more "monotonous", hypnotic approach.
TF 103 - 3 From I.O. - F.F.M.-EP
Apparently members of the FFM shadow orchestra were involved in this EP. This is one of the most remarkable releases on all of PCP, imho. Not "Hardcore", but going more into the direction of "Trance" - but 'FFM Shadow' style Trance. Surreal, twisted, extraterrestrial... fulfilling a deep cosmic longing.
3 From I.O. - Fairlight
Tune 1 - New Balance - Up & Down / Kick The House
the story runs that marc produced the tracks for the releases on this label (Techno Tribe) in one long night session. twelve records. all of them. so, essentially he produced *a whole label* in only a few hours, in one go! kudos to that, mister acardipane!
of all the EPs on this label, this is my favorite.
ecstasy-inducing techno rave that makes you want to stomp you feel all night. and when the track is done, you instantly want to listen it again. "up & down" became a huge thing on the internet later, even leading to a successful remix contest led by marc.
Elastic 4 - Barracuda - Braineaters
I assume that even a lot of PCP die-hards more or less ignored Elastic records; it's a very obscure sub-label for PCP. yet this release alone would make it worth it; a mover style track in 4 mixes that are only in subtle ways different from each other. a drum, a chorus, some fx... what more do you need? this is the stuff of futuristic dreams. and you better take care... because "their brains go *pop*!"
Barracuda - Braineaters (The Mover Mix)
Lost 6 - Cold Crush City Cru – The 6th City Mob EP
yes yes, this is the one (sorry, Laura!). as it includes "stereo murder", maybe the most monumental track by PCP (and in techno history!) "t99" type samples, a thunderous, reverberated drum... guaranteed to send anyone in the huge space arena into madness. the flipside gives us another two mean and dirty tracks.
TF 105 - 69 Juice - System of love
Another alias of the FFM Shadow Orchestra on Tranceform. Even though both tracks are listed as being edits / mixes of each other, they sound quite distinct. one is filled with beautiful, sweet piano sounds, the other with celestial swirling of synth sounds. and both have a very exotic, almost oriental feel. Once more: "FFM Shadow Trance" at it's best!
NNR 02 - Destination - Nowhere
Preliminary names of the tracks of this 2 tracker release were 'the trip" and "the theme". So both are connected - yet both tracks are worlds apart. the trip is a very experimental, non sequitur electro-affair. And "the theme", now turned into "destination - nowhere", is one of the most fascinating compositions in the history of music. No beats, vocals, anything, just a movie-score like world of utter heartbreak and melancholy.
One thing we like to point out at The Hardcore Overdogs is that Hardcore, essentially, is "nothing new"; it has been around since ages; to be more specific, its sentiments, mentality, sounds, structures, existed and exist in other music and "things", too. And this should be no surprise as hardcore, more than any other techno-born genre, relies on using music that came before: by sampling old rap, metal, house songs / tracks, and more.
But not only samples, *elements* (like certain sequences, timbres, intervals...) of other genres can be found within hardcore tracks as well.
in the past we already mentioned that there are similarities between computer / video game music and hardcore techno. and that's what we will focus on again.
when people look at the history of music in the last decades of the 20th century, they often assume that "the 80s" were ruled by synth pop, new wave, disco-pop, that kind of stuff, and then suddenly, the 90s appeared, and brought techno, acid, gabber, hardtrance with them.
But it's not like that at all. there was a transitional, intermediary period, spanning from the mid 80s to the first years of the 90s, a kind of no man's land, secret zone, when music was neither here nor there, and this (quite lengthy!) metamorphosis took place.
interestingly, this was also a very fruitful and noteworthy time for computergame music. And, in my opinion, the first time computer game music evolved out of the arcades and simple bleeps and blops to creations that could be comparable to serious, deep, "professional", complex and complicated compositions.
Before we go ahead, sonic comparisons between genres can always be a bit hit and miss for the audience. there also seems to be a difference between actual musicians and general listeners. musicians often go "oh, metallica, they're doing these riffs by chuck berry" or "slayer, ah, that's howling wolf and all that 40s blues and jazz again"; while this might be technical correct, the fans often do not see it that way at all.
the following "connections" might not really be seen, heard, or felt, be everyone alike. we guess you are either there, or you are not.
so, let's look at some tracks now that use concepts, moods, or themes that feel similar to hardcore music in one way or the other.
We are not implying that these tracks *are* hardcore. from most points of view, they are not. yet it's very interesting that they possess elements that can easily be found in the world of hardcore as well.
okay this a happy tune; at least to me. but the use of arpeggios here is already very close to later rave and hardcore music, for example in raver's nature or miro tracks. (or maybe even happy hardcore, like the party animals).
2. Dragon's Lair Part II - Song 9
hey, these are like doomcore sounds already, right?
3. Perihelion: The Prophecy - Inside Tower - Song 2
darkest ambient that foreshadows doomcore and darkest industrial techno sounds.
4. The Sentinel - Start Up / Title Screen
pure psychedelic psycho waves, reminiscent of the acid- and psycore to come.
5. Speedball - Main Title
i dropped this, without any further fx, edit or ado, in the midst of a straight terror / speedcore set; everyone kept dancing, went into mania, and sweaty core ravers went up to my DJ booth and asked for a track ID. they did not even realize that this was not a regular gabber track! i guess this settles the score on this.
basslines and crazy "psycho" sounds reminiscent of later rave and techno stuff again.
7. Star Control 2 - Commander Hayes Theme
proto-acidcore. in an amiga-type mod, on a vintage science fiction game.
8. Zak Mckracken - Intro
listen to the sounds; do the tunes and melody, rhythm not at part sound very close to rave / hardcore stabs and riffs?
9. Another World - End Theme
a very sweet ambient outro to a very bittersweet game. but, upon further glance, this tune already anticipates happy hardcore / hardtrance / ravecore type arrangements.
10. Last Ninja 2 - Loading Music
very noisy: early video game music has seldomly been so rough!
11. Amiga 500 - Weird Dreams - Intro
this list would not be complete without these "weird" sounds.
further suggestions:
David Whittaker - Glider Rider Theme Song Paso - Lost Scrotum David Whittaker - Beyond The Ice Palace Turrican 3 - The Machine Star Control 2 - Druuge Theme Dreamweb - Intro Test Drive 2 - Intro Chris Hülsbeck - Rock'n'Roll - Magnetic Beats Chris Hülsbeck - Turrican 2 - Loader Bloody Money - Intro