Hardcore Breaks

Hardcore breaks is a genre of electronic music written in the style of old skool rave music or breakbeat hardcore using modern technology. The music is composed of from looped, edited and processed breakbeat samples, intense bassline sounds, melodic piano lines, staccato synthesizer riffs, and various vocal samples (frequently taken from old house records). The speed of this genre typically fell between the range of 145-155 BPM, with exceptions within a 10 BPM buffer on each side, and the DJ will often change the speed when playing at a rave. Originally being produced by a small group of artists with the vision of carrying on where oldskool hardcore left off before the Jungle and Happy Hardcore split using new production techniques and technology, its appeal has now expanded to include artists from the original breakbeat hardcore scene creating new productions. Many large rave promotions now include hardcore breaks on the line up and it is recognised as its own entity. Hardcore Breaks together with Rave Breaks and J-tek is considered to be part of the Nu Rave scene.

Today, Hardcore Breaks tend to be produced and played at a faster tempo, often between 160-180 BPM. Therefore, it is often played at UK Hardcore, Freeform Hardcore and Drum and bass events. Breakbeat Hardcore today is a genre being pioneered by more artists, determined to help it become a genre more established and independent, rather than just a UK Hardcore sub-label. The genre today is being pushed by such labels as CLSM, Hardcore Underground, Luna-c, Crush On Hardcore amongst others.