Don't know your 150 BPM screechers from your emotional breakdowns? Here's the definitive guide to Dublin's two biggest techno sub-genres.
If you're getting into Dublin's techno scene, two sub genres dominate the conversation: hard techno and melodic techno . They sound completely different, attract different crowds, and hit different emotional frequencies. Here's how to tell them apart, and find which one is for you. Hard Techno BPM: 145 160+ Mood: Aggressive, dark, industrial, relentless Key elements: Distorted kicks, acid lines, industrial textures, screeching synths Hard techno is Dublin's fastest growing genre. Think pounding kicks that rattle your chest, dark atmospheres, and a crowd that moves with intensity. It's physical music, designed to push your body to its limits. Dublin DJs to explore: Cashuz, Bom Bruise, Dr Flamer, Ascalon, AZBEEL, Skullbreaker, Corralo Collectives: Immersiv3 Collective (Dublin's hard techno headquarters), Injector Sound, Disorder Sound International headliners who've played Dublin: Chris Liebing, Spartaque Melodic Techno BPM: 120 135 Mood: Emotional, atmospheric, hypnotic, uplifting Key elements: Lush pads, arpeggiated synths, deep basslines, vocal samples, progressive builds Melodic techno is the emotional counterpart. Where hard techno attacks, melodic techno envelops. Think eyes closed moments, hands in the air breakdowns, and a sense of journey through sound. It's the genre that makes people cry on the dance floor (in a good way). Dublin DJs to explore: Agustina Aliaga, Leonardo Biagini, Semae, Romanetto Collectives: Euphonic Collective, Mareah The Crossover Dublin's scene doesn't force you to choose. Many events feature both styles across different rooms or time slots. TRP Raves programmes nights that span the spectrum. You might hear melodic techno warm up sets building into peak time hard techno. Some DJs bridge both worlds, playing melodic builds that drop into hard techno intensity. That crossover energy is what makes Dublin's scene special. Other Genres in Dublin Beyond hard and melodic, Dublin's electronic scene includes: Acid techno: squelchy 303 basslines, psychedelic energy Raw/minimal techno: stripped back, groove focused, hypnotic (NILAAA, imniamh) Psytrance: fast, psychedelic, spiritual (AGIRA, Psylo Verse) Afro house: rhythmic, percussive, feel good (Phil Bass) Explore the full roster of 200+ DJs on the Hall of Fame, dive deeper in the Dublin Techno Guide, or browse the collective directory to find your sound. The only wrong answer is not trying both. 🎧