Darkstep

Darkstep is a subgenre of drum and bass music that emerged in the late 1990s. It is characterized by its intense and aggressive sound, often featuring dark and eerie tones and complex, syncopated rhythms. The origins of Darkstep can be traced back to the early 1990s, when jungle music was first emerging in the underground dance scene of London. Jungle was a high-energy mix of ragga, breakbeat, and techno, with heavy basslines and breakbeats that were often chopped up and rearranged. As jungle evolved, so did its sound. One of the most significant developments was the emergence of techstep, which incorporated elements of techno and other electronic music styles into jungle. Techstep was characterized by its futuristic sound, with complex and intricate rhythms and heavy basslines. In the late 1990s, a new subgenre began to emerge from the techstep sound. This subgenre came to be known as Darkstep and was characterized by its heavy, ominous sound and use of distorted basslines. The term "Darkstep" was first coined by producer Trace, who used the term to describe his own brand of dark and aggressive drum and bass. Darkstep quickly gained a following among underground DJs and producers, who were drawn to its edgy and innovative sound. Many prominent producers, such as Dom & Roland, Konflict, and Technical Itch, began to experiment with the style, incorporating elements of industrial, metal, and horror movie soundtracks into their tracks. As the new millennium approached, Darkstep began to gain popularity in the UK and Europe, with many clubs and festivals featuring Darkstep DJs and producers. In the early 2000s, the style began to spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. Despite its relative obscurity compared to other subgenres of drum and bass, Darkstep has had a significant influence on the wider electronic music scene. Many producers have incorporated elements of the Darkstep sound into their own music, and the style has been credited with inspiring the development of other subgenres, such as neurofunk and dubstep.

Current Value: A Polish producer who has been producing since 2004, Current Value is considered one of the pioneers of the darkstep genre. He is known for his heavy, complex beats and aggressive sound design that often border on the industrial side. He has released albums on labels such as Position Chrome, Subsistenz, and Blackout Music NL. Limewax: Hailing from the Netherlands, Limewax is known for his dark and intense productions. His music often features abrasive basslines, distorted synths, and fast-paced drums. He has released on labels such as Freak Recordings, PRSPCT Recordings, and Position Chrome. Counterstrike: This South African duo has been producing together since 1998 and is considered one of the most influential duos in the darkstep genre. They are known for their intricate, hard-hitting productions that incorporate elements of drum and bass, techno, and dubstep. They have released on labels such as PRSPCT Recordings, Algorythm Recordings, and Counterstrike Recordings. Katharsys: A French duo consisting of Hugo and Tom, Katharsys has been producing since 2001. Their music is characterized by its dark, atmospheric soundscapes, fast-paced drums, and heavy basslines. They have released on labels such as PRSPCT Recordings, Red Light Records, and Othercide Records. Cooh: Another producer hailing from Bulgaria, Cooh is known for his hard-hitting productions that often include elements of industrial music and breakcore. His music features complex rhythms, distorted synths, and heavy basslines. He has released on labels such as PRSPCT Recordings, Position Chrome, and Subsistenz. Tech Itch: A UK-based producer who has been active since the early '90s, Tech Itch is considered a legend in the drum and bass and darkstep scenes. His music is characterized by its dark and atmospheric soundscapes, intricate drums, and heavy basslines. He has released on labels such as Moving Shadow, Subverted Records, and Tech Itch Recordings. The Outside Agency: A Dutch duo consisting of Eye-D and DJ Hidden, The Outside Agency has been producing since 1996. Their music is largely characterized by its intense, driving rhythms, heavy basslines, and dark atmosphere. They have released on labels such as PRSPCT Recordings, Genosha Recordings, and Crossbreed. Donny: A UK-based producer who has been producing since 2004, Donny's music is characterized by its hard-hitting and aggressive sound. His tracks often feature distorted synths, complex rhythms, and heavy basslines. He has released on labels such as PRSPCT Recordings, Barcode Recordings, and Position Chrome. Broken Note: A UK-based producer who has been producing since 2009, Broken Note is known for his intense and experimental productions that often incorporate elements of industrial music, dubstep, and grime. His music features complex rhythms, distorted synths, and heavy basslines. He has released on labels such as Ad Noiseam, MethLab Recordings, and Tech Itch Recordings. Gancher & Ruin: A Russian duo consisting of Alexey and Dmitry, Gancher & Ruin have been producing since 2003. Their music is characterized by its hard-hitting drums, heavy basslines, and dark atmosphere. They have released on labels such as PRSPCT Recordings, Yellow Stripe Recordings, and Position Chrome.

1. "Invocation" - Current Value 2. "Limber" - The Upbeats 3. "Arising" - Bad Company UK 4. "Bioshock" - Limewax 5. "Noisia & The Upbeats - Dead Limit" 6. "Pandora's Box" - Audio 7. "Blackout" - The Sect 8. "Combat" - The Outside Agency & Deathmachine 9. "Fierce" - Phace & Noisia 10. "Scum" - Limewax 11. "BSE & Noisia - Hideous VIP" 12. "The Rapture" - Limewax& Cooh 13. "Surrender" - Limewax 14. "The Chain" - Phace & Misanthrop 15. "Renedade Hardware" - BSE & Noisia 16. "Desolation" - Counterstrike & Cooh 17. "Millie" - Donny 18. "Contortion" - Phace & Misanthrop 19. "Molecules" - I:Gor 20. "Turbulence" - The Outside Agency & Sei2ure 21. "Quarks" - Noisia 22. "Disorder" - Audio 23. "Timequake" - Limewax 24. "Quarks" - Noisia 25. "Machine" - The Sect & Cooh

One of the key defining traits of Darkstep is its heavy use of distorted basslines and aggressive percussion. As musician and producer DJ Hidden notes in an interview with Darkfloor, "Darkstep is a way to express anger, frustration, and power through sound. The heavy bass and drum elements are meant to create a visceral response in the listener, evoking feelings of adrenaline and intensity." In his book "Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House," Matthew Collin describes Darkstep as a "darker and more menacing" version of drum and bass, with "abstract rhythms, twisted basslines, and black-metal style atmospherics." He notes that the genre emerged in the mid-1990s, with artists such as Konflict, Technical Itch, and Bad Company leading the way. Other writers have described Darkstep as a "neurofunk" subgenre, meaning that it focuses on creating a "neurological" impact on the listener through complex and unpredictable rhythms. In an article for DJ TechTools, musician and producer Phace describes his approach to creating Darkstep as "layering sounds and rhythms until they become so complex that they start to feel like they're alive." Not all critics have been complimentary of Darkstep, however. In a review for Resident Advisor, Mark Smith suggests that the genre's focus on aggression and distortion can be off-putting to some listeners: "For all its intricacies and technical proficiency, Darkstep can also sound overbearing and exhausting, with its relentless assault on the senses." Despite this criticism, Darkstep continues to gain a dedicated following among fans of electronic music, and many artists have cited it as a major influence on their work. As producer and DJ Icicle notes in an interview with UKF, "Darkstep has always been about pushing boundaries and experimenting with sound, and that's something that's still very exciting to me as a musician."

One major influence on Darkstep was the growing popularity of electronic music. In the 1990s, electronic music had become an increasingly popular genre, with artists like The Prodigy and Chemical Brothers becoming mainstream successes. This popularity led to greater experimentation within the genre and the emergence of subgenres like Darkstep. The cultural context of the 1990s may also have contributed to the development of Darkstep. The decade was marked by a general sense of uncertainty as the world transitioned into the digital age. The rapid pace of technological change and the increasing globalization of culture created a feeling of instability that seemed to be reflected in the dystopian imagery and aggressive soundscapes of Darkstep. Darkstep was also influenced by the emergence of other subgenres of electronic music, such as drum and bass and jungle. The fast, complex rhythms of these genres were taken to new extremes in Darkstep, where the breakbeats were often accompanied by harsh, distorted basslines and intense, industrial-sounding percussion. Several notable record labels helped to define the sound of Darkstep. One of the most prominent was Position Chrome, a German label founded by DJ Gancher and Ruin in the mid-1990s. Position Chrome released several influential Darkstep records, including tracks by artists like Panacea and Xanopticon. Other important labels in the genre included Freak Recordings and Tech Itch Recordings. Journalists and critics also played a role in shaping the sound of Darkstep. One of the most influential was Simon Reynolds, who wrote extensively about the genre in his book "Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture." Reynolds praised the dark, aggressive sound of Darkstep as an antidote to the saccharine sweetness of mainstream dance music. Other notable figures in the Darkstep scene included musicians like Limewax, Current Value, and SPL, as well as DJs like Dieselboy and Limewax. These artists helped to cultivate a vibrant underground music scene that thrived in cities like London, Berlin, and New York.