PsyTrance Guide

Psychedelic

Also known as: Uptempo Psy, UK Psy, Classical

BPM Range:
145 — 155

Psychedelic is probably the most iconic subgenre of psytrance music, with its immersive bass lines and futuristic sounds often created through FM synthesis. Pioneered by London-based labels such as Alchemy, Flying Rhino and TIP Records, among others, this subgenre has also become known as UK Psy and is currently one of the hottest subgenres.

Render — Gforce (Original Mix)

Magik, Tristan — High Grade (Original Mix)

Earthspace, Imaginarium — Glitches Of Perception (Original Mix)

Virtual Light, Zeridium — Shikaka (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Ajja, Braincell, Burn In Noise, Hypnospores, Inverze, Iridian, Laughing Buddha, Lunatica, Mental Bugs, Mirok, Neo Shaman, Pantomiman, Render, Rugrats, Samadhi, Tristan

Notable Record Labels
Alchemy Records, Believe Lab, Blacklite Records, BMSS Records, Bom Shanka Music, Digital Shamans Records, Grasshopper Records, Looney Moon Records, Nano Records, Profound Records, Timecode Sangoma, Tip Records, Woo-Dog Records

Psytrance

Also known as: Psy-Trance, Classy, 140-BPM-Psy

BPM Range:
138 — 144

This subgenre fits organically between Progressive Psy and classic Psychedelic in BPM range, combining the best elements of both. It is undoubtedly the most common Psytrance subgenre currently, playing at major festivals around the world and, in fact, if you hear the word 'Psytrance', it is probably referring to this specific sound.

Daniel Lesden — Technological Singularity (Original Mix)

Vertical Mode — Time Machine (Original Mix)

Lifeforms — Velvet (Original Mix)

Outsiders & Sonic Species — Who We Are (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Ace Ventura, Astrix, Bellatrix, Kalki, Liquid Soul, Mercuroid, Relativ, Sabretooth, Sonic Entity, Sonic Species, Space Cat

Notable Record Labels
Audio Unit Records, Digital Om, Enterrec, Expo Records, HOMmega Productions, Iboga Records, Iono Music, Ovnimoon Records, Phantasm Records, Shamanic Tales, Sol Music

Progressive Psy

Also known as: Psy-Prog, Progressive

BPM Range:
130 — 140

Emerging in the mid-2000s in Europe, Progressive Psy quickly expanded to become one of the most common Psytrance subgenres. It’s also very diverse, featuring a wide range of vibes. Progressive Psy doesn’t rely on a specific type of sound, but rather focuses on the groove, the flow, and how it progresses over time.

Bitkit — Meteorite (Original Mix)

Porat — Undipresia (Original Mix)

Ticon — You Can Have My Fraggies (Original Mix)

Vibrasphere — Morning Breeze (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Botond, Emok, Freq, Ikon, James Monro, Migdalor, Mindwave, Porat, Protonica, Psycrain, Sphera, Widox, Zen Mechanics

Notable Record Labels
Bassclef Records, Comet Collective, Iboga Records, Sourcecode Transmissions, Stereo Society, TechSafari Records, TesseracTstudio, Uxmal Records

Hypnotic Psy

Also known as: Psychedelic Hypnotic, Analog, à la Platipus

BPM Range:
140 — 150

This probably hasn’t formed as an official subgenre yet, but a hypnotic sound is currently emerging and on the rise that definitely deserves its recognition. Using traditional recordings with unusual equipment, the producers of this sound create futuristic and intensely distorted psychedelic tracks that delve into the roots of the psychedelic scene while looking to the future.

Empirikal — Changa (Original Mix)

Uncharted Territory — Loopshelonigmar (Original Mix)

Out Of Orbit — Acid Shower (Original Mix)

Dekel, Gorovich — Dracula (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Alien Art, ATIA, Captain Hook, Coredata, Dekel, Empirikal, Gorovich, Modus, ON3, Out Of Orbit, Oxiv, Skizologic, Uncharted Territory

Notable Record Labels
HOMmega Productions, Iboga Records, Stereo Society

Raw Trance

Also known as: NeoTrance, Ethereal Trance

BPM Range:
130 — 160

With a nostalgic 90s vibe, 'raw' trance is often produced on physical studio equipment and utilizes many classic sounds such as 303 and 909 kits, hence the name. It is generally not as polished in production as typical modern Psy, however, it allows this style to bring many innovative ideas and even transcend the boundaries of the genre into other musical scenes. It is debatable whether this Raw Trance should be considered part of the Psy 'tribe', but nevertheless, it has many similarities and shares the same rebellious and underground ethos.

Omformer — Transmedium Travel (Original Mix)

Whirloop — Salvation Slumberland (Original Mix)

Aeryeen — Earendel (Original Mix)

Alan Backdrop — Nootropic (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Aeryeen, Alan Backdrop, Alpha Tracks, Astral Bandit, Cybernet, Dina, DJ Maria, KI/KI, Kineta, Lucinee, Nordic Echoes, Omformer, Oprofessionell, Sioc, Solar Alliance

Notable Record Labels
Amniote Editions, Anatta Records, Blue Hour, Flux Collective, Gestalt Records, Goddezz, Lost Language, Positivesource, Proxima, Sextosentido, Slash, Space Trax, Unique Sound Records, UTE

Psy-Techno

Also known as: Psychedelic Techno, Psy-Tech

BPM Range:
125 — 137

As the title suggests, this subgenre is a mix of Psytrance and Techno that combines various elements of both. And since both Psytrance and Techno can vary in tempo and vibe, there are practically no limits for this subgenre as well: it can range from deep and minimalist to hard and harsh. Although it started as a subgenre of Psytrance, today some labels that release Psychedelic Techno often position themselves closer to the Techno scene.

Ectima — First Dose Of DMT (Mix Tech)

Hedustma — Existence (MVMB Remix)

Trilingo — Get Something (Tim Taste Remix)

Allaby — Scoop (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Cybered, Ectima, Freedom Fighters, Hedustma, Luis M, Tim Taste, Trilingo

Notable Record Labels
Alula Tunes, Arlette Records, Horns And Hoofs Entertainment, IbogaTech, Subios Records, Techgnosis Records

Tribal

Also known as: Triplets, Ethnic Psy

BPM Range:
136 — 140

Pioneered by Juno Reactor and recently popularized by Vini Vici, Tribal Psy utilizes triplet bassline patterns along with some ethnic drums and vocal samples. Some producers have been overusing triplets so much in recent years that at some point, having a triplet drop is almost considered a cliché.

Juno Reactor — Conga Fury (Ace Ventura Remix)

Vini Vici — The Tribe (Original Mix)

Space Hypnose — King Of Elephants (Original Mix)

Omiki & Planet 6 — Troya (Original Mix)

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

Notable Record Labels
Blue Tunes Records, Bounce Recordings, Mainstage Records, X7M Records

Offbeat

Also known as: The Offbeat, Progressive Trance, Hamburg Psy

BPM Range:
134 — 140

Offbeat psy utilizes a specific bassline pattern in which a single bass note hits between “four-on-the-floor” kicks, hence the name. It originated in Hamburg, Germany in the late 2000s. Tracks in this subgenre often include speech samples processed with gated or sidechain effects.

Vaishiyas — Axon & John (Original Mix)

Interactive Noise — Temptation (Original Mix)

Symphonix — Hit And Run (Ticon Remix)

Dj Fabio & Moon — Emotionally Unplugged (Original Mix)

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

Notable Record Labels
432 Records, Audioload Music, Spin Twist Records

Goa Trance

Also known as: Goa, 604 Psy

BPM Range:
135 — 150

Goa Trance is the ancestor of all Psytrance music as we know it today. Formed in the 1980s in Goa, India, by the modern hippies of the time, Goa Trance gained global recognition in the mid-1990s. It features Eastern aesthetics in its melodies, mostly with Indian consonance, as well as various tribal elements from Indian culture, such as references to Buddhist or Hindu mythology and mysticism. Although Goa Trance is now considered an old-school genre, some artists and record labels still release it, referring to it as New School or Neogoa.

Oforia — Oasis (Original Mix)

Artifact303 — Feelings (Original Mix)

Radical Distortion — Psychedelic Dreams (Original Mix)

Filteria—Ultimator! (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Asia 2001, Astral Projection, Artifact303, Filteria, Hallucinogen, Man With No Name, Toi Doi, Transwave

Notable Record Labels
Avatar Records, Global Sect, Suntrip Records, Timewarp, Twisted Records

Nitzhonot

Also known as: Nitzhogoa

BPM Range:
145 — 160

Nitzhonot is a subgenre that formed from classic Goa Trance in the mid-90s in Israel and literally means 'victories' in Hebrew. It is typically faster than Goa Trance, with sharp kicks and fast oriental melodies. And, like Goa Trance, Nitzhonot is considered an underground subgenre within Psytrance as a whole, which is itself an underground style.

Goalien — Psychedelic Dilemma (Original Mix)

Nova Fractal — Perception (Original Mix)

Agneton — Eden Ahead (Original Mix)

Cyan — A New Galaxy (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Agneton, Cyan, Eyal Barkan, Goalien

Notable Record Labels
Eutuchia Music, Krembo Records, Phototropic Records, Sita Records

Full-on

Also known as: Morning Fullon, Israeli Full-on

BPM Range:
140 — 148

Full-on is a dynamic, fun and musical subgenre of Psytrance that appeals to a wider audience because of its positive vibe. Unlike a typical Psytrance bassline pattern, the Full-on bassline plays on multiple notes across a few octaves, creating a special rhythm and melody. The period from 2004 to 2009 is considered the 'golden era' of Full-on, before Progressive Psy dominated the global Psy scene.

DigiCult — Cosmic Company (Original Mix)

Electro Sun & System Nipel — We Can Dance (Original Mix)

Alternative Control — HAARP (Original Mix)

Sundose — In The Music (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Astrix, Bizarre Contact, Electro Sun, Ephedrix, DigiCult, System Nipel, Sesto Sento, Wizzy Noise

Notable Record Labels
Agitato Records, Dacru Records, Mainstage Records, Rave Tool, United Beats Records, Utopia Records

Night Full-on

Also known as: Twilight, South African Full-on

BPM Range:
145 — 150

Night Full-on is Full-on's evil twin: it has the same bassline and fast leads, but with a darker vibe and distorted synthetic sounds. At festivals, Twilight Psy usually plays during the night, hence the name.
Note: Night Full-on and Twilight will likely be separated in a future version of this guide. Read more on the blog.

CPU — Processing Unit (Original Mix)

Azax Syndrom — Flawless Victory (Original Mix)

Alienn — Goodfellas (Original Mix)

Absolum & Outer Signal — Get Up Now (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Absolum, Brainwash, CPU, Ex-Gen, Scorb, Pitch Hikers, Stereopanic

Notable Record Labels
3D Vision, Hypergate Records, Lysergic Records, Nexus Media, Mechanik Records

Dark Psy

Also known as: Cyberdelic, Alien Psy

BPM Range:
140 — 155

The name Dark Psy speaks for itself. This subgenre is dark, cold, and themed with creepy special effects. It is sometimes referred to as Cyberdelic, which means 'cybernetic + psychedelic', due to the large amount of artificial sounds, lasers, and other alien sounds. Many Dark Psy producers come from Russia, so you may see this genre referred to as the Russian style.

Asylom, Kaza – No Time to Die (Original Mix)

Sychotria & Fungoloyds – Alien Fashion (Original Mix)

Fungus Funk – Duck The Mechwarrior (Original Mix)

Blisargon & Demogorgon – Space Invaders (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Goa Gil, Kindzadza, Ocelot, Penta, Savage Scream

Notable Record Labels
Bhooteshwara Records, Hekwapi Records, Horrordelic Records, Insomnia Records, Moon Koradji Records, Sonic Loom, Woo-Dog Records

Forest Psy

Also known as: Forest Psychedelic, Scandinavian Dark Psy

BPM Range:
150 — 160

Forest Psy is very similar to Dark Psy in many ways, but it's less robotic and focuses more on ambient noises, natural atmosphere, and the creepy sounds you'd hear in a dark psychedelic forest. Full of bubbling and pulsing effects, it's also slightly faster than Dark Psy and arranged in a straightforward manner, with almost no breakdowns or beat drops.

Helan & Halvan – Gnomen (Original Mix)

Skydda Skogen – Oneiro (Original Mix)

Egon's Embrace – Aleinn a Ny (Original Mix)

Distorted Goblin – Reborn (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Atriohm, Egon's Embrace, Elowinz, Deep Brian From Bosis, Distorted Goblin, Taigan Sunsen

Notable Record Labels
Forestdelic Records, Digital Shiva Power, Parvati Records, Sonic Chakras Records

Hi-Tech

Also known as: Hitek

BPM Range:
170 — 200

Hi-Tech is somewhat influenced by Full-on, but takes it to the next level of energy. Unlike Psycore, Hi-Tech can be lively and even a little silly, in a good way.

Yuxibu — New Civilization (Original Mix)

Acajou — Deez Nuts (Original Mix)

Gotalien — Diwali (Original Mix)

Ixotul & Flowrest — Sonic Singularity (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Crazy Astronaut, Mentalecho, Popek, OxiDaksi, Sonic System, Yatzee

Notable Record Labels
Black Out Records, Hipnotic Tribe Records, Kamino Records, No Beef Massage Records, Multidimensional Music, Pleiadian, Shamanism Records

Psycore

Also known as: Psychedelic Hardcore

BPM Range:
190 — 250

Psycore is brutal, intense and has the most aggressive soundscapes with glitchy special effects. It's often so fast that you can barely hear any of the groove. Basically, it's the hardcore of psytrance!

Mother Of Datura — Baptized In Witchblood (Original Mix)

Xianzai — Rito Ri-Anima (Original Mix)

Spákum Hupákum — Wings Of Stones (Original Mix)

Neberius — Open Your Mind (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Bolon Yokte, Haemogoblin, Yaminahua

Notable Record Labels
Alice-D Records, Horrordelic Records, Popol Vuh Records, Voodoo Hoodoo Recordings

Suomi

Also known as: Suomisaundi, Finnish Psy

BPM Range:
135 — 145

Originating from Finland, Suomi is probably the most free-form subgenre of psychedelic, allowing artists to let loose and experiment both musically and in production. Suomisaundi tracks are generally very melodic, including heavy influences from early Goa, tribal beats and acid trance tracks, as well as guitar and keyboard loops and sounds reminiscent of the 80s.

Puoskari — Far From Home (Original Mix)

Aavepyörä — Unessaelämä (Original Mix)

Salakavala — Pigfoot (Original Mix)

James Reipas — Käpälämäki (Original Mix)

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

Notable Record Labels
Exogenic Records, Random Records, Sonic Dragon, Ultiva Records

Psychill

Also known as: Psybient, Psychedelic Chillout, Psy Downtempo

BPM Range:
90 — 120

Psychill is a downtempo genre that often seeks to achieve a state of deep relaxation, close to meditation and lucid dreaming. It uses many elements of Goa Trance and Psychedelic music in general and usually features classic Goa kick drums, 303 sounds and lush atmospheric pads.

Astronaut Ape — High Above The Clouds (Original Mix)

Flucturion 2.0 — Pro Temporo (Original Mix)

Man With No Name — Azymuth (Original Mix)

Gyrro — From Metariel (Original Mix)

Notable Artists
Alwoods, Asura, Astronaut Ape, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Cloower Wooma, E-Mantra, Lemonchill, Tarac, Twin Shape

Notable Record Labels
Altar Records, Cosmicleaf Records, Microcosmos Records, Mindspring Music, Ultimae Records