Speedcore
Speedcore is a form of electronic music that is characterized by a high tempo and aggressive themes.[1] It was created in the early to mid-1990s and the name originates from the hardcore genre as well as the high tempo used. Speedcore beats per minute (BPM) is classified when a song is 300+ BPM.
This article is about the electronic music genre. For the faster form of hardcore punk, see Thrashcore.History[edit]
Origins (1992–1993)[edit]
Speedcore is a natural progression of hardcore techno. Hardcore was already considered fast, however, there were those who were not content to stay at the established speed. Early speedcore was about pushing the limits of BPM and aggression level. One of the first songs to explore higher speeds was "Thousand" by Moby in 1992, which peaked at approximately 1,015 BPM.[5][4]
Subgenres[edit]
Flashcore[edit]
Flashcore is a genre that grew out of speedcore and industrial hardcore. While being originally related to speedcore, flashcore is defined by its complex avant-garde structures and abstract sounds, making it more similar to electroacoustic music and experimental music rather than any EDM genre. Most of the genre's works focus on intense, rhythmic, and layered soundscapes.[9]
Extratone[edit]
Songs with a BPM of 1000 or higher are known as extratone songs. At this tempo, the kicks happen so fast that the beat sounds like one constant note with a shifting pitch; extratone often has sudden increases or decreases in tempo to change the pitch of the tone. The name "Extratone" originates from combining the two German words extrahieren (to extract) and ton (sound).[4]
Melodic speedcore[edit]
Melodic speedcore is a genre based off both speedcore and happy hardcore. This genre is usually characterized by complex melodies and chord progressions mixed in with the aggressive sounds of traditional speedcore. This genre emerged in the early 2000s, with artists such as DJ Sharpnel and m1dy being the first to compose this type of speedcore.[10]