Doomcore

Doomcore is a type of electronic music, and a less known subgenre of hardcore techno. The first doomcore tracks were released in early 1990s, and they continued the slower, and darker style of the first hardcore tracks. Marc Acardipane's Planet Core Productions was one of the first record labels, which released this kind of music.

The speed of doomcore tracks (with few exceptions) ranges between 130 and 160 BPM, which makes it the slowest hardcore techno genre. The trademark TR-909 kickdrum is used differently then in other hardcore genres: it usually employs less distortion, and less decay. However, a reverb effect is added on it sometimes. Offbeat cymbals are usual. The atmosphere of the tracks is often similar to industrial music, doom metal and dark ambient. Producers reach this impression by using spooky ambient pads, different scary or screaming samples, and industrial noises. While there are melodic tracks, melodies are not requirements of doomcore tracks. When used, repetition of the main melody is a common practice, often to the point of repetition.

Development In The Genre

The first doomcore tracks (released in early '90s) continued the same style that first hardcore techno tracks like Mescalinum United's (Marc Trauner's) We Have Arrived had, keeping the dark industrial atmosphere, while newer elements (like Juno hoovers) added from the standard hardcore techno music. A lot of earlier doomcore tracks were produced by Marc Trauner (better known as Marc Acardipane) under different aliases. In the early 2000s a new wave of artists appeared whose music can be considered as doomcore. The trademark TR-909 kick is also changed to more recent variations. Some recent music such as Dr.Strange or Joshua is usually referred as doomcore, but it should be noted that their style is a lot different in sound than earlier doomcore, although still following the basic slow and dark hardcore image.

Representative Tracks

• The Mover - Waves Of Life (1993)
• Taciturne - Der Toten (1995)
• E-Rush - Fuck You Man (Army Of Darkness Remix) (1997)
• Frozen & Dr. Macabre - Dimension Of The Doomed (1997)
• The Masochist - Anticipation (1999)
• E-Man - Under My Command (2000)
• EBE Company - Eternity (2000)
• The Emperator - Lost Souls (2002)
• Marc Acardipane - One World No Future (2002)
• Dark Invaders - Troops Of Doom (2003)
• Dark Invaders - World Invasion (2003)
• Al Core - Black Monday (2003)
• Kid Morbid - 50 Years In San Quentin (2004)
• Moleculez - Crying (2005)
• Dark Invaders - Temple Of Eternal Night (2005)
• Dr.Strange - Anthrax Attack (2006)
• Joshua - In Vonna (2007)
• The Outside Agency - Submerger (Dr. Strange Remix) (2007)
• The Uninvited - Pain (2008)

Artists

• Armageddon Project
• Dark Invaders
• Dr.Macabre
• Dr.Strange
• E-Man (aka. Miro)
• Fifth Era
• Joshua
• Moleculez
• Tilt!/Mescalinum United/Marc Acardipane/The Mover
• The Uninvited

Record Labels

• Black Monolith Records
• Crossbones Records
• Dark Temple
• DNA Tracks
• Last Tomorrow Recordings
• Planet Core Productions (incl. sublabels)
• SGC Records