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What is Hard Techno?

By Alan More

Hard techno runs faster than standard techno, typically 145 to 160 BPM, with some subgenres pushing past 160.[1] It treats distortion as a main production element, pushing kicks, basslines, percussion and pads past clean levels.[2] Its family tree traces to three main roots: Detroit techno, Rotterdam gabber and Berlin industrial techno.[3]

On Videojam, Hard Techno carries 60 public videos. Channels most represented in the catalog are VERKNIPT, Boiler Room and Intercell. Hard Techno sits in the Techno & Trance pillar of the EDM taxonomy, alongside Techno, Melodic Techno and Trance.

Sources

  1. [1] Futureproof Music School: What Is Hard Techno? (accessed 2026-09-24)
  2. [2] Futureproof Music School: What Is Hard Techno? (accessed 2026-09-24)
  3. [3] Futureproof Music School: What Is Hard Techno? (accessed 2026-09-24)
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