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Techstep — the dark side of Drum & Bass on Minatrix.FM

Welcome to the Techstep section on Minatrix.FM — a place where heavy bass, bleak atmospheres and futuristic sound design merge into pure forward-driving energy.
Here you’ll find the finest tracks of the genre — from legendary pioneers to cutting-edge producers shaping the new era of drum & bass.

What is Techstep

Techstep is a subgenre of drum & bass that emerged in the mid-1990s from the UK club scene.
It draws on elements of techno, electro and industrial, creating a mechanical, hard-edged and futuristic sound that stood in stark contrast to the more melodic and atmospheric DnB of that time.

Main characteristics:

• Tempo: 165–175 BPM
• Heavy sub-bass and a rolling groove
• Cold, synthetic sound design
• Extensive use of filters, distortion and sci-fi FX
• Little to no vocals, often just fragmented samples

Techstep can be described as the soundtrack of a futuristic metropolis — urban, industrial and slightly dangerous.

History of the genre

Techstep emerged in the UK as a reaction against the lighter “intelligent” drum & bass of the mid-90s.
Producers of the era wanted to bring back aggression, darkness and industrial drive into the music.

Pioneers of the sound:

• Ed Rush & Optical — their album Wormhole (1998) is widely regarded as a techstep manifesto
• Trace, Dom & Roland, No U Turn Records — defined the core aesthetic
• Bad Company UK, Teebee, Black Sun Empire — carried the style into the 2000s, reinforcing its techno structures and sci-fi atmosphere

Techstep became a bridge between darkstep, neurofunk and modern DnB, influencing an entire generation of electronic producers.

Sound and atmosphere

Techstep is precise, angular sound architecture.
Instead of full vocals, you get speech snippets, industrial noise and digital percussion.
Basslines behave like a living organism, pulsing and twisting through the mix.
Melody is minimal — the focus is on rhythm, pressure and texture.

Typical tools:

• Synthesizers such as Access Virus, Roland JP-8000
• Drum machines like Alesis HR-16, TR-909
• Production environments: Cubase, ReBirth, Reason, FL Studio

Techstep became a symbol of the sound design–driven approach in electronic music: every element is carefully sculpted, processed and locked into its own space in the mix.

The modern scene

Today, techstep lives on within neurofunk, crossbreed and dark drum & bass, remaining a foundation for many labels and producers.
Contemporary artists such as Phace, Mefjus, Prolix, Maztek and InsideInfo continue its legacy, adding digital density and cinematic impact.

On Minatrix.FM, you can hear:

• Classic techstep anthems from the 1990s
• Modern tracks in the spirit of Blackout Music, Eatbrain, Vision Recordings
• Exclusive mixes and special remixes

Why listen to Techstep on Minatrix.FM

• High audio quality — every hit, bass stab and shuffle is felt physically
• Curated selection — from oldschool foundations to cutting-edge producers
• Regular updates — fresh releases and sets every week
• No ads, no sign-up — just pure music and maximum intensity

Techstep on Minatrix.FM is where drum & bass energy meets the engineered precision of techno.

Conclusion

Techstep is more than just a genre.
It is a soundtrack for the urban night — for those who seek intensity, depth and experimentation in sound.
Dive into its industrial charge — listen to Techstep online on Minatrix.FM and explore the evolution of a sound that helped reshape drum & bass forever.