Speedcore
Encyclopedia
Speedcore is a form of hardcore techno
that is characterized by a high rate of beats per minute and aggressive themes. The name originates from the high BPM rate, which rarely drops below 300 BPM. Earlier Speedcore tracks averaged at about 250 BPM, whereas more recent tracks sometimes exceed 1000 BPM. Some people classify higher BPM tracks (around 600-800 BPM), as splittercore, and upon reaching 1000 BPM and beyond, the music becomes known as extratone. Whether these terms are necessary or widely used is debatable, partially because of the human ability to perceive differences in BPM at these speeds, not to mention the fact that once the speeds reach 1000-1500 BPM, it just becomes tones, and not beats.
Speedcore tracks often contain elements of the related genres gabber
and breakcore
.
often use offensive themes in their music to push these boundaries even further. Speedcore could be considered as being related to gabber as metal is related to rock music; in terms of the fact that the earlier examples take influences of the later examples to a much more extreme level.
While most speedcore artists are content to attack the normal standards of music, or even the gabber music that spawned them, the extremism of speedcore has caused some to turn inwards and parody the standards of the genre. In a similar manner to which happy hardcore
relates to gabber
and hardcore techno
, these songs use lighter, more manic samples.
Aside from the very fast tempo of speedcore, which rarely drops below 300 BPM, speedcore can often be distinguished from other forms of hardcore techno
by an aggressive and overridden electronic percussion track that is often punctuated with hyperactive snare or tom-tom fills. The Roland TR-909
is often the drum machine
of choice for speedcore producers due to its ability to generate heavily distorted bass-drum kicks that anchor the percussion tracks. Most producers will often overdrive their kicks so much that they become square waves, much like in gabber, giving Speedcore its distinctive pounding sound. The amen break
is frequently used in a similar way to jungle music
. In particular, the snare is often played tens of times per second via a sampler
, which can also be used to pitch the snare up and down quickly.
As with many other forms of techno, synthesizers are also heavily used, often producing heavily distorted and/or disharmonic melodies to complement the underlying drums. Although any analog or hybrid synth can be used, the analog/digital hybrid Roland Juno-106
is a common favorite with speedcore artists. Pure digital synthesizers are comparatively rare in speedcore.
Samples are often used to further heighten the aggressive nature of speedcore, with many artists using audio samples of violent scenes from movies
by directors such as Martin Scorsese
and Stanley Kubrick
. Samples of actors such as Joe Pesci
and R. Lee Ermey
are especially popular, especially in older speedcore works. Some artists are content to sample shouted obscenities and incorporate these samples into their music.
Hardcore techno
Hardcore techno is a type of electronic music typified by the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples...
that is characterized by a high rate of beats per minute and aggressive themes. The name originates from the high BPM rate, which rarely drops below 300 BPM. Earlier Speedcore tracks averaged at about 250 BPM, whereas more recent tracks sometimes exceed 1000 BPM. Some people classify higher BPM tracks (around 600-800 BPM), as splittercore, and upon reaching 1000 BPM and beyond, the music becomes known as extratone. Whether these terms are necessary or widely used is debatable, partially because of the human ability to perceive differences in BPM at these speeds, not to mention the fact that once the speeds reach 1000-1500 BPM, it just becomes tones, and not beats.
Speedcore tracks often contain elements of the related genres gabber
Gabber
Gabber , is a style of electronic music and a subgenre of hardcore techno. "Gabber" is a slang word of Yiddish origin that means "mate", "buddy" or "friend"....
and breakcore
Breakcore
Breakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums , break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a...
.
Characteristics
The music is angry and aggressive. Speedcore DJsDisc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
often use offensive themes in their music to push these boundaries even further. Speedcore could be considered as being related to gabber as metal is related to rock music; in terms of the fact that the earlier examples take influences of the later examples to a much more extreme level.
While most speedcore artists are content to attack the normal standards of music, or even the gabber music that spawned them, the extremism of speedcore has caused some to turn inwards and parody the standards of the genre. In a similar manner to which happy hardcore
Happy hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as happycore, is a genre of music typified by a very fast tempo , often coupled with solo vocals and sentimental lyrics. Its characteristically 4/4 beat "happy" sound distinguishes it from most other forms of hardcore techno, which tend to be "darker". It is typically in...
relates to gabber
Gabber
Gabber , is a style of electronic music and a subgenre of hardcore techno. "Gabber" is a slang word of Yiddish origin that means "mate", "buddy" or "friend"....
and hardcore techno
Hardcore techno
Hardcore techno is a type of electronic music typified by the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples...
, these songs use lighter, more manic samples.
Aside from the very fast tempo of speedcore, which rarely drops below 300 BPM, speedcore can often be distinguished from other forms of hardcore techno
Hardcore techno
Hardcore techno is a type of electronic music typified by the rhythmic use of distorted and atonal industrial-like beats and samples...
by an aggressive and overridden electronic percussion track that is often punctuated with hyperactive snare or tom-tom fills. The Roland TR-909
Roland TR-909
The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is a partially analog, partially sample-based drum machine built by the Japanese Roland Corporation in 1983. The brainchild of Tadao Kikumoto, the engineer behind the Roland TB-303, it features a 16-step step sequencer and a drum kit that aimed for realism and...
is often the drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
of choice for speedcore producers due to its ability to generate heavily distorted bass-drum kicks that anchor the percussion tracks. Most producers will often overdrive their kicks so much that they become square waves, much like in gabber, giving Speedcore its distinctive pounding sound. The amen break
Amen break
The Amen break is a brief drum solo performed in 1969 by Gregory Cylvester "G. C." Coleman in the song "Amen, Brother" performed by the 1960s funk and soul outfit The Winstons...
is frequently used in a similar way to jungle music
Jungle music
Jungle music can mean:* A style of music prominently featuring the "Amen break"* Drum and bass, a form of rave music that has bassline and drum influence, but does not contain much influence from the "Amen break"...
. In particular, the snare is often played tens of times per second via a sampler
Sampler
Sampler may mean:* Sampler , a digital signal processing device that converts a continuous signal to a discrete signal* Sampler , a handstitched piece of embroidery used to demonstrate skill in needlework...
, which can also be used to pitch the snare up and down quickly.
As with many other forms of techno, synthesizers are also heavily used, often producing heavily distorted and/or disharmonic melodies to complement the underlying drums. Although any analog or hybrid synth can be used, the analog/digital hybrid Roland Juno-106
Roland Juno-106
The Roland Juno-106 was a hybrid digital/analogue polyphonic synth manufactured by Roland Corporation in 1984. It featured Digitally controlled oscillators for tuning stability and digital envelope generation along with analog filters and signal path....
is a common favorite with speedcore artists. Pure digital synthesizers are comparatively rare in speedcore.
Samples are often used to further heighten the aggressive nature of speedcore, with many artists using audio samples of violent scenes from movies
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
by directors such as Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
and Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
. Samples of actors such as Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
and R. Lee Ermey
R. Lee Ermey
Ronald Lee Ermey is a retired United States Marine Corps drill instructor and actor.Ermey has often played the roles of authority figures, such as his breakout performance as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, Mayor Tilman in the Alan Parker film Mississippi Burning, Bill Bowerman in...
are especially popular, especially in older speedcore works. Some artists are content to sample shouted obscenities and incorporate these samples into their music.
External links
- Wikipedia NL Guide to Extratone
- Canadian Speedcore Resistance