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Psytrance Guide To Subgenre
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PSYTRANCE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SUBGENRE

Psytrance

Also known as: Psychedelic Trance
BPM range: 138 — 142

This subgenre organically fits between Progressive Psy and the classic Psychedelic Trance in the BPM range, combining the best elements of these two. It is arguably the most common Psytrance subgenre now that sounds on the festivals all over the world, and in fact, if you hear the word “Psytrance”, it’s most likely referred to this particular subgenre.

Notable artists

Artificials, E-Clip, Lifeforms, Outsiders, Relativ, Sonic Species, StarLab, Vertical Mode

Notable labels 

Digital Om Productions, HOMmega Productions, Profound Records, Sacred Technology, TechSafari Records, Transcape Records

Goa Trance

Also known as: Goa, 604 Psy
BPM range: 135 — 150

The Goa Trance movement was born in the mid 1990’s and pre-defines what is known as modern Psytrance today. Goa Trance music was able to assist dancers in experiencing a collective state of bodily transcendence, similar to that of ancient shamanic dancing rituals, through hypnotic, pulsing melodies and rhythms. As such, it has an energetic beat, often in a standard 4/4 dance rhythm. 

A resurgence of New School Goa has taken place since 2003.

Notable Artists

Astral Projection,  Artifact303, Filteria, Hallucinogen, Man With No Name, Miranda, Ovnimoon, Pleiadians, Transwave

Notable Labels

Flying Rhino Records, MDMA Records, Suntrip Records, Timewarp, Twisted Records

UK PSYCHEDELIC TRANCE

Also known as: Uptempo Psy
BPM range: 145 — 148

Psychedelic is probably the most iconic subgenre of Psytrance music, with driving basslines and futuristic sounds often created using FM synthesis. The style was pioneered in the UK largely driven by London-based labels like Alchemy, Flying Rhino and TIP Records.

Notable artists

Ajja, Avalon, Burn In Noise, Electric Universe, Laughing Buddha, Aphid Moon, Mad Tribe, Tristan, Dickster, Future Frequency, 

Notable labels

Alchemy Records, BMSS Records, Bom Shanka Music, Digital Om Productions, Grasshopper Records, Looney Moon Records, Nano Records, TIP Records

PROGRESSIVE PSYTRANCE

Also known as: PsyProg, Progressive, Minimal Psy
BPM range: 134 — 138

Emerging in the mid ’00s in Europe, Progressive Psytrance has quickly expanded to become one of the most common Psytrance subgenres. And it’s very diverse too, featuring a quite wide range of vibes. 

Progressive Psy doesn’t utilise one particular type of sound, but rather focuses on the groove, the flow, and how it progresses over time.

Notable artists

Ace Ventura, Atmos, Atacama, Human Blue, Liquid Soul, Mindwave, Protonica, Vibrasphere, Zyce, Son Kite

Notable labels

Digital Nature Records, Iono Music, TesseracTstudio, Sourcecode Transmissions, Yellow Sunshine Explosion

HAMBURG OFFBEAT

Also known as: The Offbeat, Progressive Trance, Hamburg Psy
BPM range: 134 — 140

The Offbeat Psy uses a specific bassline pattern at which a single bass note hits between four-on-the-floor kick drums, hence the name. It is originated from Hamburg, Germany, in the late 00’s. 

Tracks in this subgenre often include sampled speech samples processed with the gate or sidechain effects.

Notable artists

Audiomatic, Fabio & Moon, Interactive Noise, Neelix, Unseen Dimensions, Vaishiyas

Notable labels

432 Records, Audioload Music, Spin Twist Records

FULL-ON PSYTRANCE

Also known as: Morning / Daytime Full-On, Israeli Full-On
BPM range: 140 — 148

The Morning Full-On genre has its roots in Israel and is a dynamic, playful, and musical subgenre of Psytrance that appeals to a broader audience because of its positive vibe. Unlike a typical straight Psytrance bassline pattern, the Full-on bassline plays on various notes across a few octaves, creating a special rhythm and melody that way. 

The period of 2004–2009 is considered as the “golden age” of Full-on before Progressive Psy took over the global Psy scene.

Notable artists

Astrix, Bizzare Contact, Electro Sun, Ephedrix, DigiCult, System Nipel, Sesto Sento, Wizzy Noise

Notable labels

Agitato Records, Dacru Records, Mainstage Records, United Beats Records, Utopia Records

Night Full On  PSYTRANCE

Also known as: Twilight, South African Full-on
BPM range: 140 — 152

Twilight Psytrance was pioneered in South African in the mid 2000’s and the can be described for the middle hours between night and day, somewhat melodic but still edgy, often groovier and deeper than the more “mainstream” full-on vibe.

Notable artists

Absolum, Brainwash, CPU, Ex-Gen, Outer Signal, Scorb, Pitch Hikers, Shift, Stereopanic

Notable labels

Absolum, Brainwash, CPU, Ex-Gen, Outer Signal, Scorb, Pitch Hikers, Shift, Stereopanic

3D Vision, Hypergate Records, Lysergic Records, Nexus Media, Nutek Records, Mechanik Records

DARK PSYTRANCE

Also known as: Cyberdelic, Alien Psy
BPM range: 140 — 155

Dark Psytrance name speaks for itself. This subgenre is dark, cold, and themed with a horror special effects. Sometimes it’s called Cyberdelic, which stands for “cybernetic + psychedelic”, due to a massive amount of artificial sounds, lasers, and other alien sounds. Many Dark Psy producers are hailing from Russia, so you might see this genre referred as a Russian style.

Notable artists

Fungus Funk, Goa Gil, Kindzadza, Ocelot, Penta, Savage Scream, Zik Matutero

Notable labels

Bhooteshwara Records, DejaVu Records, Discovalley Records, Parvati Records, Vertigo Records, Zaikadelic RecordsTRANCE

FOREST PSYTRANCE

Also known as: Forest Psychedelic, Scandinavian Dark Psy
BPM range: 150 — 160

Forest Psytrance is very similar to Dark Psy in many ways, but it’s less robotic-themed and focuses more on the ambient noises, nature atmosphere. Forest is darker, more psychedelic but with a funky low end bassline and strange trippy effects in the upper register

Notable artists

Derango, Atriohm, Baba Yaga, Deep Brian From Bosis, Distorted Goblin, Taigan Sunsen

Notable labels

Digital Shiva Power, Parvati Records, Sonic Chakras Records, Yggdrasil Records

HI-TECH

Also known as: Hitek Psy, Psycore
BPM range: 150 — 220+

Hi-Tech is a Psytrance style strongly influenced by Dark Psytrance, Psycore, and Full-On. Typically fast, unpredictable, highly technical, with a focus on polished beats, clear bass lines, and glitchy sounds designed to reprogram the mind.

Notable artists

Highcosmos, Highko, Terranoise, Psykovsky

Notable labels

Kamino Records, OVNI Records

PSYBREAKS

Also known as: Psychedelic Breaks
BPM range: 130 — 138

Psybreaks or Psychedelic Breaks is a relatively new subgenre that emerged in the late 2000s and is a combination of psychedelic trance and breaks/drum & bass elements. It lacks a kicks and simple 4/4 rhythm in favour of irregular breaks.

Notable artists

Bad Tango, Beatman and Ludmila, Blazer, Broken Eye, Hedflux, MartOpetEr

Notable labels

Broken Robot Recordings, Luminus Music, Neom Recordings, VIM Records

SUOMI

Also known as: Suomisaundi, Finnish Psy
BPM range: 135 — 145

The “Suomi-saundi” is derived from the native name for Finland, the original birthplace of this particular fat, funky, experimental, and freestyle form of psychedelic trance.

Suomisaundi tracks are usually very melodic, including heavy influences from early Goa, tribal beats, and Acid Trance tracks, as well as funky guitar and keyboard loops and sounds from or reminiscent of 80’s.

Notable artists

Aavepyörä, James Reipas, Puoskari, Salakavala, Texas Faggott, Troll Scientists

Notable labels

Exogenic Records, Random Records, Sonic Dragon, Ultiva Records

PSYBIENT

Also known as: Psychill
BPM range: 90 — 120

Psybient is a much slower downtempo genre that often seeks to reach a state of deep relaxation, close to meditation and lucid dreaming. It utilities various elements of Goa Trance and Psychedelic music in general, and typically has a classic Goa kick drum, 303’s sounds, and lush atmospheric pads.

Notable artists

Asura, Astronaut Ape, Cloower Wooma, E-Mantra, Lemonchill, Tarac, Twin Shape

Notable labels

Altar Records, Desert Trax, Microcosmos Records, Mindspring Music, Ultimae Records

PSYCHEDELIC TECHNO

Also known as:  Psytechno, Psytech
BPM range: 130 — 150
 

Psychedelic Techno is one way to (loosely) label a specific spectrum of electronic dance music. It is characterized by its focus on minimalism, aiming to induce a trance in the listener through shifting, percussive rhythms, and deep, rolling basses. 

Psytech is stripped down psytrance where the sounds are much more non-melodic. Another feature is the greater Constance of rhythm that is shared with techno.

Notable artists

Cybered, Freedom Fighters, Hedustma, Ectima, John 00 Fleming, Midimiliz, MVMB, Opsy, Tegma

Notable labels

JOOF Recordings, Horns And Hoofs Entertainment, Iboga Records, Soundmute Recordings

Minimal Psytrance

Also known as: Minimal, Deep Psychedelic, Zenonesque
BPM range: 130 — 135
 

Although this subgenre might be formally called Progressive, it’s typically slower, deeper and less melodic than the Progressive Psy we know today. Tracks of this subgenre build-up slowly, allowing artists to focus more on things like reverb tails, delay effects, little percussion tricks, and other subtle details.

Notable artists

Atmos, Beat Bizarre, Krumelur, Perfect Stranger, Son Kite, Sensient

Notable labels

Echoes Records, Plusquam Records, Uxmal Records, Zenon Records

Tribal Psytrance

Also known as: Triplets, Ethnic Psy
BPM range: 136 — 140
 

Pioneered by Juno Reactor and then recently popularised by Vini Vici, Tribal Psy utilises triplets bassline pattern along with some ethnic drums and vocal samples. Some producers overused triplets so much in the recent years, so at some point, having a triplet drop is almost considered as a cliché.

Notable artists

Berg, Juno Reactor, Loud, Omiki, Pop Art, Planet 6, Pura Vida, Vini Vici

Notable labels

Blue Tunes Records, Bounce Recordings, Mainstage Records, X7M Records

Psy Tech – Trance

Also known as: Uplifting Psy
BPM range: 138 — 140
 

Psy Tech-Trance is a product of a clash between Psytrance and a regular Trance worlds. Tracks in this subgenre typically have the Psy bassline, longer uplifting breakdowns, and acidic riffs at the climax. Although some devoted psytrance fans don’t accept this subgenre as a part of the Psy scene and culture, it grows pretty rapidly, especially in the US.

Notable artists

Christopher Lawrence, Harmonic Rush, Jordan Suckley, Sean Tyas, Simon Patterson

Chillout

Also known as:  Chill, Ambient, Downtempo
BPM range: 80 — 110
 

Chillout music is very similar to Psychill but less psychedelic influenced. Formally speaking, Chillout is a subgenre of electronic music in general, not Psytrance in particular. However, historically it has a deep connection to the Psy scene and today you can hear many Chillout artists playing at the Psytrance festivals.

Notable artists

Carbon Based Lifeforms, Kyoto, Side Liner, Suduaya, Sysyphe, Vibrasphere

Notable labels

Altar Records, Cosmicleaf Records, Hadra Records, Microcosmos Records, Ultimae Records

Nitzhonot

Also known as:  Uplifting Goa, Morning Goa Trance
BPM range: 145 — 160
 

Nitzhonot is a subgenre that formed from the classic Goa Trance in the mid 90’s in Israel, and it literally means “victories” in Hebrew. It is typically faster than Goa Trance, with high-pitched kick drums and fast-paced oriental melodies. And just like Goa Trance, Nitzhonot considered an underground subgenre among Psytrance as a whole, which is an underground style itself.

Notable artists

Agneton, Cyan, Eyal Barkan, Goalien, Shivax

Notable labels

Ezel-Ebed Records, Krembo Records, Phototropic Records, Sita Records

PSYDUB

Also known as:  Ambient Dub
BPM range: 70 — 95
 

Psydub ( or sometimes inaccurately Ambient Dub ) is a fusion genre of  Electronic music that has its roots in Psychedelic trance,  Ambient and Dub music. Incorporated dub elements are melodic basslines, deep reggae roots and producing techniques like dynamically adding extensive echo, reverb, panoramic delay, and occasional dubbing of vocal or instrumental snippets from the original version or other works

Notable artists

Shpongle,  Simon Posford, Hallucinogen, Raja Ram 

Notable labels

Merkaba Music, Mindspring Music, Altar Records, Mystic Sound Records

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