Darkcore
Breaks · 1990 · 140 to 155 BPM · also known as Dark Hardcore, Darkside
The winter of 1992 to 1993 in English hardcore: the euphoria fades, pianos disappear, and breaks get wrapped in anxious pads and horror samples. Mr Kirk's Nightmare set the tone, as rave discovered its dark side. Darkcore is the passage through which hardcore became jungle, and Goldie's Reinforced period is its beating heart, not to be confused with the modern gabber darkcore, a different world entirely and a separate lineage.
6 reference tracks
- 4hero: Mr Kirk's Nightmare (1990)
- Rufige Kru: Terminator (1992)
- Doc Scott: Here Come the Drumz (1992)
- Metalheads: Terminator (1992)
- Origin Unknown: Valley Of The Shadows (1993)
- DJ Crystl: Warpdrive (1993)
At a glance
- Tempo: 140 to 155 BPM
- First appeared: around 1990
- Machines: Akai S950, Commodore Amiga, Roland TR-909, Steinberg Cubase
- The sound: Breaks assombris et pitchés, Nappes mineures, Samples de films d'horreur, Basses sub menaçantes
- Labels: Reinforced Records, Moving Shadow, Formation
- Key artists: 4hero, Goldie (Rufige Kru), Doc Scott, DJ Crystl, Origin Unknown
Producing Darkcore
Darkcore keeps the 1992 hardcore tempo but pushes further, 150 to 160 BPM, the zone where the break starts running on its own. The feel changes completely: where hardcore bounces, darkcore slides, with breaks time stretched rather than pitched up, sometimes pitched down, giving a cold, dragging edge, and no continuous kick under the break, which appears only in sections for weight. Time stretch the break the old way, warping rather than transposing it, which creates grain and metallic artefacts on the cymbals, and reinforce it with a 909 kick on beat one and scattered rimshots. The sub is menacing because it barely moves, a sine held over long notes with a slight glide between distant notes. Replace the pianos with a held minor chord, and layer horror samples, dialogue, screams, creaking doors, with long reverb.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Darkcore?
The winter of 1992 to 1993 in English hardcore: the euphoria fades, pianos disappear, and breaks get wrapped in anxious pads and horror samples. Mr Kirk's Nightmare set the tone, as rave discovered its dark side. Darkcore is the passage through which hardcore became jungle, and Goldie's Reinforced…
What tempo is Darkcore played at?
Between 140 and 155 BPM.
Who are the key Darkcore artists?
4hero, Goldie (Rufige Kru), Doc Scott, DJ Crystl, Origin Unknown.
